Kent were left disappointed after Hampshire captain Jimmy Adams and last man Danny Briggs helped deny them a third LV=County Championship Division 2 win of the season at Southampton on Monday.

Rob Key’s men looked to be on course for victory when the home side, needing 175 runs to avoid an innings defeat, slumped to 144-9.

Adams carried his bat to make 85 off 255 balls, and Briggs (20 not out) to bat through 20 overs, and scupper Kent’s chances of moving closer to leaders Derbyshire, who they meet later this week.

Briggs dropped on nought, survived against a ring of close-catchers and several lbw appeals to deny Kent victory. as they took 10 points from a game they dominated.

Hampshire were 10-3 and 117-6, before Dmitri Mascarenhas stayed for 16 overs for nine, before he was caught and bowled by James Tredwell who finished with 3-62

Matt Coles (pictured above) then dismissed David Balcombe and James Tomlinson in successive balls, but Briggs avoided the hat-trick, and stayed to prove a big thorn in Kent’s side.

The result leaves Kent fourth, but only three points behind second placed Yorkshire, who were held to a draw by Leicestershire at Grace Road.