Skipper Geraint Jones’ brave declaration on day three of their LV= County Championship game at Hampshire nearly set Kent up for an unlikely victory on Saturday.

Set 342 to win for the first time this season, Kent closed 46 runs short on 296-8 after another fine batting effort from Darren Stevens.

Kent were struggling at 41-4 on the final day after generous bowling from Rob Key and Sam Northeast helped Hampshire add more than 100 runs in less than 10 overs.

However, Key and Northeast both went cheaply to former loanee David Balcombe before Brendan Nash and Ben Harmison quickly followed to leave Kent staring at defeat.

Stevens changed the game back into Kent’s favour and if he had batted for another hour then they would have almost certainly bagged the win.

The all-rounder fell just four runs short of a century, scoring 15 fours and two sixes in a 105-ball knock before he was caught behind.

Daniel Bell-Drummond kept Kent’s hopes alive with a half-century but when he and skipper Jones fell in the space of three overs it was time to play for the draw.

The ninth-wicket pair of Calum Haggett (32 not out) and Adam Riley (21 not out) successfully saw out the last 22 overs to deny Hampshire victory.

Riley had earlier taken a career-best 7-150 in Hampshire’s first innings. They were eventually bowled out for 455 on the second day with a stunning 146 from Neil McKenzie the highlight. Sean Ervine made 86 and Jimmy Adams 65.

Kent’s reply started brightly enough with Northeast (59) and Key (47) in good touch. However, five wickets fell for the addition of just 50 runs and it needed half-centuries from Harmison (63) and Stevens (60) to steer them toward the follow-on target.

Jones made 24 not out to help Kent to 321-7, declaring at that stage rather than batting on for further bonus points.

Hampshire were reduced to 12-2 in reply but quickly regained their composure before Jones’ kind choice of attack helped them to 207-3 declared in less than 35 overs.

Kent moved off the bottom of Division 2 with the draw ahead of Wednesday's clash with third-bottom Glamorgan at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence.