Gritty Glamorgan batted throughout the final day to deny Kent an opening win of the LV= County Championship Division Two campaign and land a dramatic and unexpected draw.
Set an improbable 404 for what would also have been their maiden success of the season, Glamorgan lost only eight wickets throughout the fourth and final day to clinch a fourth draw from as many starts.
Though paceman Matt Coles gave it his all, Kent were unable to blast through the Glamorgan tail and the hosts were made to settle for 12 points as the visitors reached 309 for nine for a 10-point return.
The Welsh county had three heroes in nightwatchman Dean Cosker, Graham Wagg and then number 10 David Lloyd, who batted 89 minutes for an unbeaten 43 to complete Glamorgan’s great escape.
Lloyd and last man Michael Hogan negotiated the final 7.2 overs to ensure the draw.
ANALYSIS: Dean Cosker hit 10 fours in his career best 183-ball 69 #CountyCricketLive#KenvGlapic.twitter.com/rAPP43pd4H
— Glamorgan Cricket (@GlamCricket) May 13, 2015
Kent encountered their first major stumbling block in the shape of Cosker, sent in as makeshift number three on the third evening. Playing in his 246th first-class game, the 37-year-old veteran’s four-hour vigil for a career-best 69, set the determined tone for final day.
Glamorgan, resuming on their overnight total of 32 for one, lost opening batsman James Kettleborough in the seventh over of the day for 20. Playing back and across the line to a Darren Stevens in-ducker, the right hander was leg-before.
Will Bragg perished in similar fashion five overs later when he played all across a full-length ball from Coles to depart without scoring to make it 50 for three.
Cosker and Colin Ingram combined either side of lunch to add 87 for the fourth wicket until the South African, the ball after posting his 77-ball half-century, nicked a good delivery from Ivan Thomas to slip to go for 51.
Nine overs later Sam Northeast held a juggled chance at mid-off to account for Chris Cooke then Cosker’s 183-ball stay ended when he played across a near yorker-length ball from Calum Haggettto make it 194 for six at tea.
Kent claimed the second new ball 10 overs after the resumption to account for Mark Wallace, who was undone by the pace of Coles and trapped leg-before to a very full length delivery. Then Craig Meschede had his stumps rearranged by Haggett.
A counter-attacking 65-ball 50 by Wagg extended Glamorgan’s resolve into the final hour of the match but, after 136 minutes at the crease, the right-hander was caught off balance by another near yorker to depart lbw and give Haggett career-best figures of 4-61.
Calum Haggett posts career-best bowling figures in dramatic draw http://t.co/zn9jX9HAaqhttp://t.co/cQPO2r0IDb
— Kent Cricket (@kentcricket) May 13, 2015
Coles might have finished the job in the next over, only for Darren Stevens to spill a regulation catch at second slip off Lloyd’s outside edge.
Kent circled the bat in the final overs but last man Hogan combined with Lloyd to see out the final 32 minutes and salvage a draw much to the delight of their team-mates on the St Lawrence players’ balcony.
Talking afterwards a delighted Glamorgan skipper Jacques Rudolph said: “I thought our guys fought all the way and deserved something out of the game.
“We were up against it at the start but battled back well after what seemed a long first day in the field and Kent’s second-wicket century stand.
“Generally, we’ve managed to take wickets in the second and third sessions and, although that has kept us competitive, we could maybe work on our plans at how to get into teams quicker.
“As for the batting, the way William Bragg batted in our first innings was particularly pleasing. He’s our in-form batsman. He prepares really well and shows a lot of grit.
“I’ve set him a target of five centuries this summer, so I’m backing his form to continue.”