Kent clung on to deny Northamptonshire a record-breaking win in Rothesay County Championship Division 2 after a stomach-churningly tense final hour in Canterbury on Wednesday.
A sterile contest finally ignited on the last day as one-time Kent overseas spinner Yuzvendra Chahal and Calvin Harrison nearly span the visitors to an improbable victory, using the much-maligned Kookaburra ball.
Northants defied the elements, batted aggressively and declared on 722-6, smashing the record for the highest score by any side at the venue, which eclipsed the 676 made by Australia in 1921.
Saif Zaib made 196 not out and Justin Broad was unbeaten on 157 in an unbroken partnership of 298 runs. It also meant they led by 156 runs, which gave Kent a minimum of 59 overs to navigate, 11 of which were lost due to rain.
Chahal took 4-51 and, for the second consecutive week, it was left to Joey Evison stave off defeat.
He hit 49 from 104 balls and was helped by a dramatic late return from Tawanda Muyeye, who left the ground at lunchtime due to personal reasons, but returned to bat at 10 and was there with Evison at stumps, as Kent closed their second innings 160-8.
Kent head coach Adam Hollioake said: “You can’t say it’s boring!
“The wicket started to turn more at the end and, without us having the opportunity to win the game, we had to try and save it. That brought the men in around the bat.
“Thankfully, we carried on, being semi-positive, so at least we got past that total.
“But certainly, it did make for some interesting watching.”
Northants resumed with Zaib on 150 and Broad on 107 – but just 12 minutes were possible before the rain became too heavy for the players to continue.
Overall, 18 overs were wiped out and, when play resumed, Zaib and Broad tried to make up for the lost time. Broad took two from Jaydn Denly (2-148) to pass 150.
Gallow humour prevailed as Parkinson (1-200) conceded his 200th run and his team-mates applauded.
The rain returned and, with Northamptonshire 722-6, lunch was taken early, but this time, only one over was lost – and Kent faced a potentially awkward afternoon.
It looked even more awkward when Liam Guthrie (1-31) sent Denly’s off-stump cartwheeling, four balls into the reply but, after four overs, the rain returned with Kent 12-1 and 11 further overs were chalked off, leaving Kent with a minimum of 48 more to survive.
Chahal bowled Ekansh Singh for 37 but Ben Compton and Daniel Bell-Drummond steered Kent to the relative safety of 76-2 at tea.
But they then fell apart.
Captain Bell-Drummond edged the first ball of the evening session, from Harrison (3-59), to Broad at first slip and Compton went trying to sweep Chahal, victim of a low catch at square leg by Tim Robinson.
With Muyeye apparently unable to bat after he had left the ground at lunch for personal reasons, Kent were effectively five down with 45 minutes to go before the final hour.
Harry Finch cut Harrison straight to Broad for four and Parkinson strolled out with Kent still 61 runs in arrears.
Chahal then took two wickets in two balls: Parkinson survived 12 deliveries until Broad took his third catch of the innings, and Wes Agar went for a heave and was out for a golden duck, caught behind by Lewis McManus.
Matt Quinn played more sensibly until he lofted his 57th ball from Harrison to Chahal for 13.
Yet to widespread surprise, Muyeye came out and Hollioake’s team had a major let off when Evison was dropped by Ricardo Vasconcelos at silly point.
The duo crucially steered Kent into the lead and, when 5.50pm was reached, they were officially safe.
Kent, still bottom of the table despite the draw, are 10 points adrift of second-bottom Middlesex while Northamptonshire are fifth.
Spitfires return to T20 Blast action against Sussex Sharks in Canterbury on Friday night.
