Lancashire return to Division One with draw against Kent

Alex Davies and Steven Croft played starring roles as Lancashire held on for a draw against Kent at Canterbury to secure promotion back to Division One of the LV= County Championship.

The pair shared a battling unbeaten century stand to claim the five extra points the visitors needed to book their place in the top flight next season, although they were forced to work hard against a Kent side who dominated the match on the opening three days.

Following on 311 runs adrift of Kent's massive first innings total of 570-8 declared, Lancashire began the final day precariously placed on 47-2 – and looking favourites to suffer a heavy defeat.

However, Davies and Croft came to the rescue with a stubborn fifth-wicket stand to deny the hosts.

Coming together on 138-4, with Davies joining skipper Croft on 13, the pair added an important 120 runs in 49.4 overs.

More important than the runs was the time Croft and Davies occupied at the crease, with the duo frustrating Kent for six minutes short of three hours.

When stumps were drawn at 4.55pm, captain Croft was 72 not out after facing 209 deliveries, while 21-year-old wicketkeeper Davies added 58 off 153.

The result means the Red Rose county cannot now be caught by third place Northants although they were overtaken at the top of the table by Surrey, who earlier in the day thrashed Derbyshire.

With two games remaining this season, Surrey lead Lancashire by five points with the teams meeting at Old Trafford the week after next.

Promotion follows last week's success at Edgbaston, where Lancashire lifted the domestic T20 trophy for the first time.

And Ashley Giles, Lancashire's cricket director and head coach, is justifiably proud of his side.

We've done what we came to achieve, which at the start of the year was promotion, and winning the T20 at the start of the week was an amazing feeling for everyone.

He said: "It was a strange week because we should be absolutely over the moon, but there are parts of this game that we're a bit disappointed with how we've played.

"It's probably our worst game in the Championship, although we've come away with a draw. We lost to Gloucester at home but probably played better cricket.

"We've done what we came to achieve, which at the start of the year was promotion, and winning the T20 at the start of the week was an amazing feeling for everyone.

"This morning we asked for that resilience and fight. Good sides win a lot but they also become very difficult to beat. I thought it was a really fantastic effort."

Meanwhile, in Chelmsford, there was another draw between Essex and Northamptonshire as bad light brought an early end to proceedings on day four.

After setting Northants a target of 302 to win from a minimum of 56 overs, Essex had the visitors in some trouble at 85-4 in the 24th over.

However, they were unable to make any further in-roads before the deteriorating weather conditions cut short the final hour with the T20 runners-up finishing on 92-4.

Starting the final day on 55-1 in their second innings, Essex batted for another 39 overs before declaring on 216-5.

As Essex tried to claim an unlikely victory, Jamie Porter reduced the visitors to 48-2, first clean bowling opener David Murphy for seven before clattering the wickets again to dismiss Alex Wakely.

The first stoppage because of poor light came shortly before tea with Northamptonshire on 64-2. Seven overs were lost but on resumption, 18 runs were added before Rob Keogh was run out.

With light deteriorating, Keogh had scored 17 and was backing-up when he was left stranded by a direct throw by substitute fielder Aaron Beard at cover.

Three runs later, Aron Nijjar breached the defences of Josh Cobb who was bowled without scoring.

But the home side's hopes of pushing for victory were soon dented by more bad light and a vigilant innings by opener Ben Duckett who stood firm to reach the close on an unbeaten 34 having batted for 109 minutes.

Overall in the match, 106 overs were lost to the elements as Essex collected 12 points and Northamptonshire nine.

And there was a third Division Two draw at Grace Road between Leicestershire and Gloucestershire.

Declarations by both sides set up a potentially exciting finish on the final day and Gloucestershire looked well-set to push for the win when, chasing 302, they put on 108 for the first wicket in 24 overs.

Openers Chris Dent and Will Tavare both hit half-centuries but the loss of five wickets for 64 runs in 17 overs put paid to any dramatic run-chase.

In the end, they reached 212-5, still 90 runs short when bad light brought a premature end to proceedings.

Resuming the final day with their first innings on 249-8, Gloucestershire skipper Tavare called his batsmen in as soon as the follow-on had been saved – after less than four overs – with the visitors still 146 runs adrift of Leicestershire's total of 415.

The hosts then crashed out 155 runs – for the loss of nine wickets in 31.3 overs – before they too declared.

Dan Redfern led the way with 74 from 83 balls, while no other home batsmen reached 25.

As Gloucestershire batted for a second time, Tavare and Dent gave them an ideal start compiling a century opening partnership at more than four an over.

But left-arm seamer Rob Taylor made the vital breakthrough when he picked up Dent caught and bowled off a leading edge.

Gareth Roderick, Tavare, Hamish Marshal and Howell followed Dent back to the pavilion before Peter Handscomb and Noema-Barnett added 40 for the sixth wicket to reignite the chase until the light became unplayable.