A flat pitch and dogged resistance by the Sussex batsmen left Kent unable to force a victory on the final day of their Championship game at Tunbridge Wells.

Sussex survived a potential banana-skin of a final day’s play at The Nevill Ground, with the curtain coming down on the game to conclude as a draw after Kent had started the day with the prospect of an unlikely win.

With cloud-cover welcoming the players and patrons alike Sam Northeast, unsurprisingly enforced the follow-on courtesy of a fabulous evening session on day three bowling out Sussex for 333 leaving them 242 runs adrift.

Looking to bat out the day for a draw, opening pair Harry Finch and Chris Nash put up a solid defence and in an opening hour where Kagiso Rabada, Darren Stevens, James Tredwell and Mitch Claydon all looked to make a crucial breakthrough. Sussex had successfully ‘parked the bus’, however, unbeaten but reaching just 18/0 after the first 15 overs.

Kent continued to show the persistence that had served them well on day three, however, and were rewarded before lunch. Imran Qayyum got the eagerly awaited wicket as Nash (18) drove to the on-side but straight to captain Northeast, leaving Sussex 54/1, and 62/1 at lunch.

Kent’s patience was again rewarded in the afternoon session as Qayyum struck for the second time. Luke Wells (22), largely untroubled up to that part, somewhat inexplicably poked the ball back to the left-arm spinner and the visitors were 96/2.

Opener Finch brought up the second County Championship half-century (133b, 9×4) of his career as the visitors continued to dig in, and with Sussex digging in to save the day this was no doubt well received in the pavilion.

However no sooner had Finch swept Tredwell to bring up Sussex’s 150, he departed for 66, inside-edging onto his pads with Alex Blake taking the catch.

Ross Taylor and Luke Wright continued the Sussex efforts leading up to tea, with New Zealand international Taylor moving to fifty, following his unbeaten 142 in the first innings, taking their side to the tea break on 174/3.

With the final session of the match underway, Taylor was finally dismissed for the first time in the game, as Joe Denly eventually caught the New Zealander in the deep (68) off the bowling of Tredwell.

With 16 overs remaining, the hosts took and gave the new ball to Rabada – Sussex 21 runs adrift of Kent’s first innings total – ably supported by Tredwell at the Railway End – Kent hoping the new ball and variation in pace could prove decisive in their last throw of the dice.

Tredwell trapped Wright (38) in his crease to see the ex-England man given lbw, with Sussex five-down for 237, five runs adrift of Kent batting once more, with twelve overs remaining, and in the next Rabada over Brown played and missed as the ball nestled into Callum Jackson’s gloves.

That would be the last opportunity for Kent, however, with the captains eventually shaking hands for the draw at around 5:45pm.

With Sussex’s rearguard action, most notably Taylor’s two innings with the bat (142* & 68), and the incessant sun beating down on The Nevill Ground across the four days, along with a batting-friendly pitch, it was somewhat inevitable the game would peter out to a draw as it did, but Kent could have done little more in the field, with their efforts unquestionable.

With the end of the four days play Sussex wave goodbye to Kiwi Taylor whilst Kent will undoubtedly thank Rabada for his services as his short stint with the Garden of England side comes to a close.

Tunbridge Wells saw the South African compete in his final four-day game for the club, although Kent fans get to see him one last time on Friday night in a must-win NatWest T20 Blast encounter against the Essex Eagles at Canterbury (7pm start).

Specsavers County Championship Division Two, Kent v Sussex at Tunbridge Wells, Jul 17-20 2016:

Result: Sussex 333 (Taylor 142*, Wright 60, Nash 55; Rabada 3-81) and 255/5 (Taylor 68, Finch 66; Tredwell 3-76) drew with trail Kent 575 (Northeast 190, Dickson 81, Denly 78, Stevens 63, Blake 61; Briggs 5-169).

Points: Kent 11pts, Sussex 8pts

Full scorecard available here.

Kent: Dickson, Ball, Denly, Northeast*, Stevens, Blake, Tredwell, Jackson†, Rabada, Claydon, Qayyum

Sussex: Nash, Finch, Wells, Taylor, Wright*, Brown†, Jordan, Beer, Briggs, Magoffin, Whittingham