Tawanda Muyeye hit an unbeaten century as Kent played out a draw on the final day of their Rothesay County Championship Division 2 opener at Durham on Monday.
The 25-year-old finished 109 not out as Kent reached 234-5 having slipped to 41-3 at one stage in pursuit of 357 for victory.
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 130-7 was a great effort.”
After no play on day three after damage caused by Storm Dave, Durham resumed on 83-2.
Matt Milnes struck early for Kent, as he bowled Ben McKinney for 38 before Graham Clark departed for three, handing Glenton Stuurman (2-43) a wicket, as a leading edge flew to Ben Compton at point.
Colin Ackermann was caught behind off the bowling of Keith Dudgeon for one and South African David Bedingham was bowled by Milnes (2-53) for 48.
Dudgeon (3-34) struck again, with Ollie Robinson his next victim for four after he chipped one to Muyeye in the covers as the hosts slipped from 110-3 to 118-7 in less than four overs.
Ben 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 as Durham reached 164-8.
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 43.
Durham then declared at lunch on 218-9, setting Kent a target of 357.
Zak Crawley and Ben Compton opened the batting for Kent but Compton departed for eight as he edged a Kemar Roach delivery to Aldridge at second slip.
Crawley resumed his battle with England team-mate Potts and played a delightful shot through the covers for four. However, Potts then got Crawley for the second time in the match, again leg before, for 20.
Raine immediately backed that up with the vital wicket of Northeast for 10 and Kent were 41-3 with more than 50 overs to bat out for the draw.
Durham nearly had a fourth Kent wicket as skipper Daniel 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 on nine driving to Alex Lees at cover, but the Durham skipper couldn’t take a tricky chance.
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 hundred partnership.
However, a double blow sparked the game back into life with Bell-Drummond edging a Potts ball to Aldridge for 37 and Evison falling leg before to Raine for a six-ball duck.
Muyeye, much to Durham’s frustration, and Chris Benjamin (17 not out) remained solid in defence. The former reached his century from 116 balls and the sides shook hands with nine overs remaining.
Report via ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
