DERBYSHIRE set about saving the draw on the final day of their LV County Championship match against Kent at the 3aaa County Ground.
Kent declared their first innings on 235-6 for a lead of 117 to leave Derbyshire a potentially awkward 49 overs to see out. At tea, they were 38-0.
Brendan Nash led Kent with an unbeaten 95 when the declaration came at the fall of the sixth wicket. It was a bit of a surprise that they backed out before Nash completed his ton and his side reached a second batting point at 250 but they clearly fancied their chances of embarrassing Derbyshire.
But the wicket appeared very flat and Derbyshire, bowled out for 118 on day two, were not really in danger as Stephen Moore made it to 32 not out with Paul Borrington on six not out at tea.
There was no suggestion of a contrived finish before the start of play, leaving only bonus points to play for unless Kent could somehow build enough of a lead and then bowl Derbyshire out cheaply in their second innings.
Derbyshire took their first wicket in the fourth over of the day when Rob Key walked down the wicket to Tony Palladino and nicked a catch through to wicketkeeper Gareth Cross for eight, though Key's reaction suggested there was no contact with the bat.
That was 21-1 and Kent were 31-2 in the 12th over when Sam Northeast gave Cross a second catch, this time off Mark Footitt. He made 12.
Tim Groenewald claimed his 250th first-class wicket through a spectacular misjudgement from Daniel Bell-Drummond, who left one that sent his middle stump cartwheeling and went for 24 at 81-3.
But Nash was in very positive mood and a six over long on off David Wainwright took him past 50 and carried Kent into the lead. His half-century came off 55 balls with five fours and a six.
Ben Harmison was caught at mid-on for 27 to give Groenewald a second wicket at 145-4 and Darren Stevens made a sharp 33 before he was well caught at third man by Borrington off Footitt at 195-5.
Finally, Sam Billings top-edged a hook at Alex Hughes and was caught by Cross for 15 to spark the declaration.
