A defiant unbeaten century from Tawanda Muyeye in the face of some probing Durham bowling handed Kent a draw on the final day of an enthralling Rothesay County Championship clash between the two.

At the start of the day, it was Durham in the ascendency, but Kent struck back as the hosts lost five wickets in the first hour. However, Ben Raine led a recovery from the lower order, and Durham managed to set Kent a target of 357 after they declared on 218 for nine.

Kent’s chase got off to a poor start, but a partnership of 124 between Muyeye and Daniel Bell-Drummond steadied the ship, yet there was another twist as a double blow handed Durham renewed hope of a win.

However, Muyeye and Chris Benjamin held on to secure their side a draw, as Kent closed on 234 for five.

After no play on day three, Durham pair Ben McKinney and David Bedingham resumed for their side on 83 for two, a lead of 221.

Matt Milnes struck early for Kent, as he dislodged McKinney’s off-stump meaning the opener had to depart for 38.

Graham Clark then departed for three, handing Glenton Stuurman a wicket, as a leading edge flew to Ben Compton at point. Colin Ackermann was then caught behind off the bowling of Keith Dudgeon for one just moments later.

South African Bedingham was dismissed soon after, as Milnes struck again, bowling Durham’s talisman for a well-made 48.

Dudgeon struck again, with Ollie Robinson his next victim for four after he chipped one to Muyeye in the covers.

Raine managed to relieve some of the pressure on Durham by thrashing a Dudgeon delivery to the legside boundary.

Kasey Aldridge then played a lovely drive through the covers, but Grant Stewart bowled Aldridge for a handy 18, dislodging his middle stump.

Raine continued to play nicely and Matthew Potts joined in, smashing a Joey Evison ball down the ground for six, but Raine was then bowled by Evison for a vital 43.

Durham then declared at lunch, with the score sitting at 218 for nine declared, setting Kent a target of 357.

Crawley and Ben Compton opened the batting for Kent after lunch, but Compton departed for eight as he edged a Roach delivery to Aldridge at second slip.

Crawley resumed his battle with England teammate Potts and played a delightful shot through the covers for four.

However, Potts then got Crawley for the second time in the match, with the England opener LBW for 20.

Raine then backed that up with the vital wicket of Northeast for 10, as he sent the Kent man’s stumps flying.

Durham very nearly had a fourth Kent wicket as Bell-Drummond edged an Aldridge delivery on four, but the diving Emilio Gay couldn’t cling on.

Another chance was missed shortly after, with Muyeye driving one to Alex Lees at cover, but the Durham skipper couldn’t cling on to a tricky chance with the batter on nine.

The pair then took the sting out the game for Kent, with Muyeye playing some glorious shots including one through the covers off Roach.

Muyeye continued his vital knock for Kent with a boundary from the first ball after tea and he reached his fifty from 62 deliveries. Muyeye then hit a four on the legside to bring up the 100 partnership.

However, a double blow sparked the game back into life after the game was seemingly petering out, with Bell-Drummond edging a Potts ball to Aldridge and Evison then fell for a duck, LBW to Raine.

Muyeye remained though, much to Durham’s frustration, and he and Benjamin remained solid in defence.

Muyeye then made it to the 90’s and had a nervy moment when an airborne shot landed in between three Durham fielders, but he reached his century from 116 balls.

The two sides then shook hands with nine overs remaining.

Kent captain Daniel Bell-Drummond said: “It was good players playing good cricket. We weren’t in the driving seat for a lot of it but there were some good partnerships there.”

“I think the guys got off well this morning, the wicket helped a little bit, but to come back after a tough few days and to get them to 130, 140 for seven was a great effort.”

(On Sam Northeast’s 94 in first innings) “he’s a brilliant player, one of the best players in the country. It’s good to have him back and he started with a bang straight away especially in tricky conditions. He’s played very well here.”

Durham head coach Ryan Campbell said: “It’s easy to be disappointed but it’s hard to win games of cricket in three days. We got sent in on a wicket that gave plenty to the bowlers yet we were still the only team that could win the game throughout I thought. 

(On Emilio Gay) “He’s a hard worker and he wants to get better. Every time he comes to training, he always has a plan. He just wants to get better every day, if everyone was like that, you’d have an easy job as a coach to be honest.”

(On Storm Dave damage) “I must take my hat off to everyone at the club who rocked up. There were tiles off the roof. The whole scaffolding’s come down, credit to them to get the game back up and running.”