Nash strokes hundred to earn draw for Kent

LONDON, England, CMC – Discarded West Indies batsman Brendan Nash stroked his 13th first class century and passed fifty for the fifth time in his six innings this season, as Kent drew with Lancashire on the final day of their County Championship clash here yesterday.

The left-hander, who played the last of his 21 Tests nearly two years ago, finished on exactly 100 to help Kent to 178 for two in their second innings, before the game was abandoned as a stalemate at Old Trafford.

Lancashire, resuming the day on 336 for five, were dismissed for 395 with Australia’s Simon Katich failing to add to his overnight 93. Steven Croft, however, converted his 47 into an unbeaten 64.

Behind by 151 on first innings, Kent then plunged to 36 for two before Nash dominated a 142-run, unbroken third wicket stand with Mike Powell (39 not out) to see the visitors to safety.

Nash was fluent in his two hours and 40 minutes at the crease, stoking 12 boundaries off 141 balls.

The Australia-born Jamaican, a former West Indies vice-captain, had earlier scored a patient even fifty in the first innings and also carved out half-centuries in each innings in the previous game against Leicester at Grace Road. At Derby, Derbyshire lost to Nottinghamshire by nine wickets, despite Shiv Chanderpaul’s second half-century of the contest on Friday.

The veteran West Indies left-hander stroked a breezy 57 from 89 balls with eight fours and a six to help guide Derbyshire to 143 for five in their second innings at the close.

The hosts were eventually dismissed on yesterday for 229, leaving Notts with the easy target of 43 for victory.

At the Oval, Barbadian seamer Chris Jordan failed to repeat his first innings heroics for Sussex as their game against Surrey finished in a draw.

The right-armer finished wicket-less in from his 15 overs as Surrey, behind by 175 on first innings, comfortably reached 308 for five declared.

Jordan had taken five for 92 in Surrey’s first innings, his second consecutive five-wicket haul to follow up his six for 48 against Yorkshire in the last round.