COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO ROUNDUP: While there were results at Grace Road and Old Trafford, the same could not be said for the matches at Sophia Gardens and Canterbury
Cardiff (day four of four): Gloucestershire 380 & 255-7d, Glamorgan 528 - match drawn
Gloucestershire batted all day to complete their day four task and ensure a draw with Glamorgan at Sophia Gardens.
Miles Hammond led the way with 84, remaining at the crease for 55 overs of the final day as the draw was settled after just three innings, the visitors ending on 255 for 7 with a lead of 107.
Ben Kellaway attempted to bowl Glamorgan to victory in the absence of the injured Mason Crane and continued to show signs of promise with career-best figures of 6 for 111, adding to his century from day three.
With both Leicestershire and Derbyshire recording defeats earlier in the day, Glamorgan and Gloucestershire both closed the gap on the promotion spaces with their high-scoring draw.
Related: Middlesex master the Kookaburra to topple table-topping Leicestershire
Joey Evison halted Northants' charge (Getty Images)
Canterbury (day four of four): Kent 566-8d & 160-8, Northamptonshire 722-6 -match drawn
Kent clung on to deny Northamptonshire a sensational, record-breaking win in the County Championship, closing on 160 for eight at stumps, after a stomach-churningly tense final hour.
A hitherto sterile contest finally ignited on the final day as 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 for 6, smashing the record for the highest score by any side at this venue, eclipsing the 676 made by Australia in 1921.
Saif Zaib made 196 not out and Justin Broad was unbeaten on 157, an unbroken partnership of 298. It also meant they led by 156, giving Kent a minimum of 59 overs to navigate, 11 of which were lost due to rain.
Chahal took 4 for 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 ten and was there with Evison at stumps.
Related: Leicestershire head coach calls for change to summer schedule
Lead Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency
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