A MAIDEN first-class century from James Tredwell left LV Championship leaders Yorkshire frustrated as Kent secured a battling draw in Tunbridge Wells.

Having taken four wickets in the opening session it appeared the Tykes would march on toward victory, especially when former England fast bowler Darren Gough emerged from having treatment on a broken right hand to take the second new ball after lunch and with it a wicket in his first over of the day.

Yet Kent dug in late on through Hall and Tredwell with a backs to the wall stand that left Gough's victory plans in tatters.

Following on 259 in arrears, Kent were still 110 in deficit going into the final day of four and their hopes of surviving the day crashed from the very first ball when Martin van Jaarsveld went leg before to a Jason Gillespie loosener.

Rob Key was 16 short of a deserved ton when he drove loosely to be caught at second slip, then Darren Stevens mistimed an attempted drive straight into the hands of the cover fielder.

Two balls later Neil Dexter pushed at another Tim Bresnan leg-cutter to be caught behind and by lunch Kent had slumped to 236 for five.

Gough underwent a fitness test during the interval and emerged for the mid-session to dismiss Geraint Jones with only his sixth delivery as Jones (15) drove hard at a full-length away swinger to be well held high at second slip.

But Gough had to give in to the pain after six overs and Kent sensed their chance of holding out for the draw.

Left-hander James Tredwell, promoted to bat at No.4 following last week's hand injury to Matt Walker, showed most appetite for the fight and in Andrew Hall he found a worthy ally.

Tredwell's 50 took two hours, his century followed after a scampered single against Bresnan in 257 minutes from 189 balls and with 13 fours. By the close he and Hall had added 140, a record for Kent's seventh wicket against Yorkshire, which took their side into a lead worth 124 when the teams agreed a draw at 5.04pm.

SCORECARD

Yorkshire first innings

C White c Hall b McLaren 21
J J Sayers c Key b Tredwell 187
A McGrath lbw b Hall 100
Younis Khan lbw b Cook 7
J A Rudolph c Jones b McLaren 43
A Rashid c Key b Stevens 54
T T Bresnan not out 55
S M Guy c Denly b Stevens 25
D Gough c Cook b Stevens 6
J N Gillespie not out 13
Extras 40

Total 551 for eight declared after 166.2 overs

Fall of wicket: 1-52, 2-255, 3-281, 4-368, 5-415, 6-471, 7-511, 8-523.

Bowling: Arafat 22-5-66-0, Hall 15-3-41-1, McLaren 21-2-76-2, Tredwell 47-8-149-1, Stevens 27.2-3-91-3, Denly 8-1-23-0.

Kent first innings

J L Denly lbw b Gough 10
R W T Key lbw b Gillespie 62
M van Jaarsveld c Rudolph b Gough 0
J C Tredwell lbw b Kruis 16
N J Dexter c Khan b Gough 34
G O Jones c Guy b Bresnan 61
A J Hall lbw b Gough 77
Yasir Arafat b Gough 4
R McLaren b Gough 0
S J Cook not out 7
Extras 17

Total 292 all out after

Fall of wicket: 1-12, 2-12, 3-55, 4-65, 5-141, 6-145, 7-271, 8-275, 9-279.

Bowling: Gough 16.2-6-47-6, Gillespie 17-5-58-1, Kruis 15-1-62-2, Bresnan 16.2-4-34-1, Rashid 11-1-55-0, Khan 5-0-15-0, McGrath 4-0-13-0.

Kent second innings (following on)

J L Denly c Guy b Kruis 9
R W T Key c Khan b Kruis 84
M van Jaarsveld lbw b Gillespie 56
J C Tredwell not out 116
D I Stevens c Sayers b Bresnan 14
N J Dexter c Guy b Bresnan 0
G O Jones c Khan b Gough 15
A J Hall nout out 63
Extras 26

Total 383 for six after 129 overs.

Fall of wicket: 1-14, 2-149, 3-173, 4-201, 5-201, 6-243.

Bowling: Kruis 24-2-89-2, Gillespie 21-3-51-1, Bresnan 22-3-82-2, McGrath 9-2-21-0, Rashid 35-4-77-0, White 5-0-9-0, Khan 7-1-25-0, Gough 6-1-12-1.

Match drawn, bonus points: Kent 7pts Yorkshire 11pts.