Kent (413 & 164-7) draw with Essex (530-7dec & 257-4dec) in County Championship Division 1 at Chelmsford

Teenager Jaydn Denly came to Kent’s rescue as they left Essex with a draw on the final day of their County Championship clash on Monday.

The match was heading for a grandstand finish as far as the hosts were concerned as Kent, needing a token 375 for victory, lost seven wickets in less than two sessions.

They returned for a tense final 43 minutes but Denly survived 128 balls to finish 41 not out.

Gusty April showers meant a delayed start on the last day. No play was possible before lunch and that meant Kent had 64 overs to negotiate in their second innings to escape with a draw.

Play started at 1.40pm with a strong wind blowing across the ground. Essex declared their second innings overnight and it took less than 15 minutes for their first breakthrough to arrive with ball in hand. Tawanda Muyeye departed for a 12-ball duck, edging Jamie Porter behind to Michael Pepper, who took a good low catch.

After five successive maidens and just five extras on Kent’s total, Daniel Bell-Drummond finally broke the stranglehold with a boundary through the leg side.

Having taken 13 balls to get off the mark, Ben Compton hit a back-foot four but departed next ball, trapped in front by Porter, for six to leave Kent 19-2.

Jack Leaning was then dropped at second slip by Simon Harmer - a one-handed attempt low to his left - off the very next ball. Porter’s opening spell was 2-7 in six overs.

Kent were staring defeat in the face after losing two wickets in four balls. Bell-Drummond looked comfortable on his way to 18 before being trapped in front by Harmer and then Shane Snater bowled Leaning for eight to leave Kent 37-4.

Having ripped through the Kent order on day three, Matt Critchley got in on the act to remove Harry Finch leg before for