Yorkshire forced to settle for draw against Kent

Yorkshire lost the chance of victory as bad light scuppered the end of their  LV= Insurance County Championship clash against Kent at Headingley.

Umpires Graham Lloyd and Steve O’Shaughnessy halted play with Yorkshire hoping to chase down 114 in the final 21 overs.

Kent trio Ben Compton (93), Grant Stewart (90) and Ollie Robinson (85 not out) had held up Yorkshire, whose 571 had given them a 280-run lead after the first innings.

The visitors looked to be in safe waters at 384 for six in their second innings.

But Yorkshire captain Steven Patterson, with three victims, inspired a burst of four wickets for nine runs in 24 balls.

Yorkshire, however, had to settle for 16 points to Kent’s 11.

Essex held on for a draw against Northamptonshire as Paul Walter fell agonisingly short of a maiden first-class century.

Walter made 93 from 246 balls as the visitors were unable to press home a 197-run advantage after the first innings.

Matt Critchley (47) and Adam Wheater carried on Walter’s good work, the latter using up 174 balls of the day’s allocation in scoring just 33 runs.

Off-spinner Rob Keogh (four for 51) and Tom Taylor (three for 62) had threatened to secure victory for Northamptonshire, who had enforced the follow-on at lunchtime on day three.

But Essex survived to reach 328 for nine and collect 10 points, while Northamptonshire picked up 13.

Rain prevented play on the final day of the games between Hampshire and Lancashire and Gloucestershire and Surrey.

Lancashire had needed 342 more runs at the Ageas Bowl and Hampshire required 10 wickets in what was a delicately-poised contest.

Both sides claimed 12 points, while Gloucestershire took 15 and Surrey 11 from their Bristol contest.

Chris Dent was unbeaten on 207 with