Surrey return fire to secure draw

County Championship D1, Tunbridge Wells:
Kent 262 & 467-4 dec drew with Surrey 324 & 333-4
Points: Surrey 10, Kent 9

Match scorecard

Surrey secured a draw against Kent, after sterling centuries from openers Scott Newman and Richard Clinton.

On a blameless pitch, the duo put on 280 but a target of 395 on the final day always looked steep.

Martin Saggers finally had Newman caught for 167 and Andrew Hall stopped former Kent batsman Clinton two short of his first-class best.

Min Patel, who took six wickets in the first innings, toiled through 42.3 overs, dismissing Ali Brown late on.

Kent had conceded a first innings deficit of 62 but laid down the gauntlet on the third day when Robert Key and Martin van Jaarsveld both hit centuries

Surrey resumed the day on 11 without loss with Kent skipper David Fulton immediately on the attack, deciding to open the bowling with Patel and having four fielders crowded around the bat.

But both openers were in a dominate mood, with Newman smashing successive sixes over mid-wicket off the spin of Van Jaarsveld.

Earlier, Kent's Robert Key suffered a blow to his right wrist and while fielding at short leg.

He could not get out of the way as Newman swept a full length delivery from Patel and was taken to hospital for an x-ray.