Sussex survive by frustration

Sussex 145 and 450 Kent 349 and 85-5 Match drawn

Two contrasting but equally frustrating partnerships thwarted Kent's hopes of victory and secured Sussex the draw they coveted after a dismal first innings on Wednesday.

Matthew Prior and Kevin Innes put on 64 for Sussex's seventh wicket and wrested the initiative back from the valiant Kent bowlers. Then Jason Lewry and Innes added 37 runs for the last wicket. This final partnership was crucial because instead of a thrilling chase of about 220 from 42 or 43 overs, Kent were left with the almost impossible 247 from 33 – seven runs an over rather than five.

Instead of selecting a pinch hitter to slog from the very start, Kent elected to bat in proper order, a tactic that looked decidedly askew when Dave Fulton and Ed Smith perished in the first over, the former to an ambitious pull shot and the latter with a wild slash outside off stump.

With the pitch devoid of any pace and bounce, fast scoring was always going to be difficult but that might have benefited a lower-order swiper such as Amjad Khan, particularly with one boundary no more than a top-edge chip away. Instead Kent were 2 for 2 with their last realistic hopes of the improbable, Rob Key and Andrew Symonds, at the crease. Three overs later, Symonds holed out to deep square-leg and the draw was guaranteed, a result that kept Sussex in mid-table.

Considering that in April the captain Chris Adams, stated that the club's ambition was to stay in the First Division, they are enjoying a good season. Most encouraging, however, are the performances of some of their younger players.

Last season promotion was based on the huge weight of runs from the opening pair, Murray Goodwin and Richard Montgomerie, but to survive and prosper in the higher league they needed some of the lesser known names to contribute. Tim Ambrose, 19, scored a vital century and not for the first time this season, Prior, 20, demonstrated style as well as a sound technique when batting under pressure. His half-century suggested attitude as well as skill and importantly he refused to become bogged down against the wily spin of Min Patel.

With every run scored making a successful chase less likely and each over bowled reducing the time to conceivably pursue one, it was disappointing that he holed out on the long-leg boundary. Another 10 minutes and the game was over, but Prior took on the leg-side trap with a hook shot and gifted Kent a lifeline that was only snatched back with a mixture of lucky inside edges and good shots by Sussex's last pair.

A tough, never-back-down attitude is an asset, but much more so if it can be allied to a good brain.