Brilliant Nico defies his old boys

Date: Friday 18 September 2009

Final Day Report: Kent (12 points) 453 (van Jaarsveld 146, Jones 89, Harris 4-84, White 3-91) drew with Leicestershire (7 points) 148 (Dippenaar 52, Cook 5-44, Khan 4-46) and 350-2 (Nixon 173*, Boyce 98)

Paul Nixon registered a first-class career-best score of 173* as Leicestershire gained an important draw with his former team Kent, sharing a record-breaking opening stand with Matthew Boyce in the process.

The left-handed duo put on 204 for the first wicket before Boyce unfortunately fell on 98, but Nixon went on to beat his previous best of 144* against Northamptonshire in 2006 during a mammoth 364-ball, seven hour and eleven minute stay at the wicket.

The pair’s crucial contributions ensured County took seven points from the match where Kent became the Division Two champions, and after the second day of proceedings, that tally had looked a long way off.

Their partnership broke the previous best of 202 put on by Gerry Lester and Maurice Hallam at Grace Road in 1956, and ensured County took seven points from the contest. With Middlesex holding on for a draw at Derbyshire in their final game, it means that six points against Northants next week would guarantee the side do not finish at the foot of the table by a clear point.

Having spent three years at Canterbury, Kent knew full well about Nixon’s staying power at the crease. This was a Herculean effort though; batting through four sessions of play with your back firmly against the wall is massively difficult. It was a situation that Nixon has come to relish over his long and distinguished career and this was no different.

County's objective was to bat through the day and they did that in some style. The platform was laid by Nixon and Boyce, who got through the opening half-hour of play in determined fashion.

Passing the early stages unscathed was a huge morale booster and the batsmen then looked to get the scoreboard moving once they were well set.

Although keeping wickets intact was always going to be key throughout, runs were also important. County knew that if they could progress from 97-0 to beyond a tally of 305, then Kent would not only have to take ten wickets - but also chase too.

That was a psychological factor and certainly added an extra dimension to the thought processes of home captain Rob Key, who couldn't set overly-aggressive fields as if runs were no object.

So, although crease occupation came first, run gathering was also on the agenda of County's batsmen. Indeed, three boundaries then came in quick succession as runs started to flow more freely.

Boyce, who resumed unbeaten on 53, played late two fours off Amjad Khan, with the bowler unfortunate to see one of them go through the cordon. Nixon, meanwhile, who was on 37 overnight, pulled James Tredwell through square-leg.

A nudged two from Nixon through mid-wicket took him to 49, and a single bought up his second half-century since he took up the opening role for the club. It was an attritional effort, coming from 150 balls with five fours.

Nixon opened up after making fifty and Boyce was also working away; scoring fluently for good measure. County not only got through an hour of play, but also moved past their first innings score without loss.

It looked for all the world that Boyce would make his second Championship career hundred, but after moving going into lunch unbeaten on 98, he fell to the occasional bowling of Martin van Jaarsveld six balls after the interval.

He was caught at slip by Justin Kemp from the off-spinner, and although it was a massive disappointment for the young opener not to reach three-figures, his sterling work went some way to helping to secure the draw.

Nixon was joined by Josh Cobb, and the pair shared another welcome half-century stand as the experienced batsman moved towards three figures.

He duly reached and passed that landmark - and what a proud moment it must have been for Nixon on his old stamping ground. His willingness to make life difficult for the opposition has stood him in good stead over the years, and the high valuation he placed upon his wicket was critical for County here.

Nixon fought and fought and also put his foot down when the chance arose between 50 and 100; lofting a couple of maximums as well as six more fours. it came up from a further 89 balls - 239 in all - in a knock that was just ten minutes shy of five hours at that stage.

It was a typically pugnacious innings, a combination of sturdy defence, good leaving, powerful pulling and cutting and some neat drives. Nixon was not finished there though, and had his previous first-class best score of 144* well within his sights after making his 20th first-class career hundred.

Cobb was another good foil after being promoted to number three; playing both seam and spin nicely and driving when the opportunity arose. However, the youngster chipped a catch back to James Tredwell - who had worked hard all day - and the off-spinner gratefully snapped up the chance.

Skipper Boeta Dippenaar then entered the fray for the final time this season and settled alongside Nixon, who was clearly enjoying himself by this stage. He advanced down the track to loft Tredwell for a straight six to move onto 125, and County were now within 40 runs of ensuring Kent had to bat again.

By tea, the score had reached 296-2, with both Nixon and Dippenaar profiting from runs through the slip cordon shortly prior to the break.

The left-hander was just five shy of his best at that point, and he reached the milestone after tea. A beautiful cover drive for four bought up his first total of 150 in his first-class career, and he was understandably delighted to reach that tally; giving the dressing-room a big thumbs up and a raised bat with a proud smile.

Key was now giving everyone a bowl as the match was petering out – and even turned his arm over himself – but nobody could shift Nixon or Dippenaar. The duo took the score past the 305 required to make Kent bat again, and by the close, they had progressed the score to 350-2.

It was certainly a good eventual outcome and a spirited response from the side, who were staring down the barrel after the second day. There is one final challenge this season in the Championship at Northants, whose promotion hopes suffered a blow at Chelmsford today.

An excellent game is in prospect at Wantage Road after Northants, who had started this round of matches twelve points clear in second place, finished three points behind Essex after their rivals claimed a thrilling win in their meeting.

The home side required 242 from 52 overs after dismissing Northants for 195 in their second dig, and claimed the victory with just a ball to spare in an enthralling contest thanks to good knocks from Alistair Cook, John Maunders and Matt Walker and a nerveless late stand from Graham Napier and Tom Westley.

It means their twelve-point lead going into the match has been turned into a three-point deficit, and it makes for a fascinating last round of matches as Essex travel to Derbyshire, who are still very much in the race for second place despite not quite being able to force victory against Middlesex, who survived 85 overs in making 259-9.

Middlesex's resistance not only helped their own cause but also dented Derbyshire's promotion hopes as their opponents would have ended the day in joint-second position had they claimed the final wicket.

Still, they are in the mix and County will be hopeful of climbing off the bottom of the table in the final game. They side are three points behind Surrey - who host another promotion hopeful in Glamorgan at The Oval in their last game - and five behind Middlesex, who have finished their season.

As County have lost less games than Middlesex, five points will ensure they do not finish bottom. However, the team will want to put clear daylight between themselves and Middlesex, and at the same time make life tough for Northamptonshire.

Kent's last fixture is at Gloucestershire, and although they have won the title, Gloucs could still sneak up on the rails and get promotion. So, all is very much still to play for.