Despite some spasmodic pyrotechnics on the final day, the Rothesay County Championship match between Kent and Lancashire ended in a draw, with the weather ruining what might have been a thrilling run chase.

Ekansh Singh hit 60, his highest first-class score, as Kent posted 293* aided by a hugely entertaining cameo from Matt Quinn, whose 42 was his best score for Kent.

Mitch Stanley also had a career day, taking six for 100 to finish with match figures of 11 for 180.

Lancashire needed 303 to win and were 138 for three when rain forced the players off, just after Marcus Harris had reached 50. Quinn took 2 for 21, but then limped off with an injury.

28 overs were lost due to rain but when play finally began both sides immediately went on the attack.

Ekansh hit the second ball of the day from Tom Hartley for six, but Mo Rizvi was lbw to Stanley’s first delivery from the Nackington Road End, getting a pair on his first-class debut.

When Stanley then bowled Matt Parkinson for a second-ball duck, in the same over, the lead was only 221, but Quinn joined Ekansh for a partnership worth 71 that steered Kent out of danger.

He blazed 22 off Stanley’s next over (including four byes) and left Stanley kicking his crease in frustration.

He even improvised a ramp shot off a full toss that somehow ended up at point and by lunch Kent were on for 276 for seven.

The final three dismissals were all caught behind. Stanley finally got Quinn, George Balderson got Ekansh, also caught behind, after a bouncer caught his raised bat. Ben Compton, playing despite a wrist injury, came in at 11 but only faced one ball before Michael Cohen was out to Stanley for four.

This pattern continued in the Lancs’ reply when Keaton Jennings edged Quinn to Harry Finch for four and Wells then went to the same combination for 19, but Josh Bohannon and Harris took the heat out of the situation for the visitors with a partnership of 91.

Harris reached 1000 runs for the season when he reached 23 and it was 73 for two at tea, but Quinn then pulled up injured during a run-up, stumbling at the crease and walking straight off, to be replaced by Rizvi.

His first over went for 15 and he was immediately replaced by Evison, whose third ball bowled Bohannon’s off stump for 46. At 16.34 however, the rain returned and this time there was no chance of a resumption.

*Eds note: This is only the time Kent have made the same score in their first and second innings.

The first was 140 vs Surrey in 1914 (at Lord’s). The second was 165 v Warwickshire 1960 at Edgbaston.

Lancashire’s Steven Croft said: “I think we were a little bit hot and cold. If the day had played out it would have been an interesting finish, we were obviously going to give it a really good go but over four days there’s been a lot of good stuff in there.

“Mitch Stanley getting 11 wickets in a game was great to see in only his second game. Wellsy put some runs on the board and Harry did his thing in the second innings.“We fought back really well, which has been a theme, not just in the last few games but in the last couple of years really so I think the goal is to start the game really strongly and stay in a strong position rather than fighting our way back.”

(Could Stanley figure on Finals Day?) “I think anyone who puts in a performance like that and who’s relatively inexperienced is going to be a massive help. I think as sportsmen, when you get that moment when you get your first five-for or hundred and you actually belong at that level it’s sometimes hard to keep saying it, but when you actually go out and do it and perform after you’ve been practising for most of your life, to do it out there and put those numbers up, it definitely puts you at ease a bit and makes you feel like you belong at that level.”

Kent’s Adam Hollioake said: “Well (we got) a few points at least, it’s not a loss but you know there’s a lot to take from that game really. I think we got the record for the youngest opening partnership and then I think in the second innings we even had Ekansh coming in at three, so if that’s not the youngest top three ever then I don’t know what is.

“But that was great, seeing the young guys get out there and take it to Lancashire. I know they’re in the second division but this would be one of the best sides in the country, they’re a very experienced side and the complete polar opposite to us, so for us to be pushing the game and looking to win it, I think was very positive for us in the future.”

(On the England U19 trio of Jaydn Denly, Ekansh Singh and Ben Dawkins) “I know it’s astonishing really, they just keep surprising me, I mean as soon as I got here I could tell how talented they were, but seeing the way they’ve progressed as the season’s gone on has been even more impressive.”

“So those three are good and then underneath that we’ve even got Corey Flintoff to come still and Olly Curtiss as well, so those guys will be potentially making their debuts in the next game so there’s certainly the future is bright for Kent.”

(On Matt Quinn) “He’s been amazing, he was like Ian Botham in this game, he bowled beautifully with the ball and he got wickets in the first innings and all genuine ones, nicks, clean bowls, so he’s a proper bowler. To then come out and do what he did with the bat was probably the highlight of the game. It wasn’t out of the textbook but it was good to watch and then a couple wickets in the second innings as well. Unfortunately he’s gone off with a recurrence of his hamstring. We’re hoping that fixes up pretty soon but I think we’re unlikely to see him for the rest of the season.

“So yeah I mean it was a good game, but I think we were coming out of it with three injuries though so that’s just kind of a normal thing for us.”

Eds note: The three injuries referred to are Tawanda Muyeye’s concussion – he will not be able to play at Leicester – and AH confirmed Ben Compton had broken his wrist.