County Championship: Jack Leaning stars as Kent secure draw with Lancs

Former Yorkshire batsman Jack Leaning led the Kent rearguard action with an unbeaten 53 off 199 balls

Two Yorkshiremen, Jack Leaning and James Logan, rescued Kent from defeat at Old Trafford as they held out for the final 20 overs to deny Lancashire.

But the 13 points earned from the draw was still enough for the Red Rose to qualify for the top two in Group Three.

Glamorgan's draw with Sussex ensured that both Lancashire and Yorkshire are through to Division One in September.

Leaning hit an unbeaten 53 as Kent closed on 149-8, aided by Logan's equally gritty 3 not out from 57 balls.

Lancashire and leaders Yorkshire, two points better off, will now meet in the Headingley Roses Match starting on Sunday to determine who goes through as Group Three winners.

With the fourth-day pitch expected to turn, Lancashire were obviously dealt a big blow by leg-spinner Matt Parkinson's mid-match England ODI call-up, although Kent had also lost Test batsman Zak Crawley.

In only his eighth first-class match, Tom Hartley improved his previous career best of 3-79

Young slow left-armer Tom Hartley partially bridged the gap, following up his first red-ball wicket of the summer by going on to take first-class figures of 4-42.

But, having bowled out Kent for 74 first time around, the hosts were effectively denied victory by the weather, having been affected by rain on all four days, including the loss of the entire first day.

When play finally got under way on day four at 13:10 BST, Lancs declared on their overnight 259-9 - a lead of 185.

They whittled away to leave Kent on 134-8 going into the last hour when Hartley struck twice in three balls - but former Tykes batsman Leaning, from York, and Wakefield-born Logan saw it through.

Kent, still winless after nine games, host Sussex in their final match, which also starts on Sunday.

Lancashire head coach Glen Chapple:

"We've bowled really well and Jimmy Anderson was exceptional. He was just probing, bowling at excellent pace, generating steep bounce, moving the ball like he does. There were hardly any balls out of place.

"When conditions are in his favour he is virtually unplayable. That spell was great to watch. He has romped to 1,000 wickets in 260 games and there is plenty to come - it's a great achievement for him but there is more in the tank.

"We have him again against Yorkshire and I'm looking forward to seeing him bowl. He will be a positive influence and we have a fit squad so we'll be able to take a strong team to Headingley."

"It is a good feeling to know we are in Division One before the last game because there are going to be a lot of teams playing under pressure next week."

Kent batsman Jack Leaning:

"It was good fun because I quite enjoy those battles where you have to get stuck in. It was quite fitting that two Yorkie boys stopped the Lancy boys winning.

"It's always nice to play Lancashire. Even though I am now a ent lad and loving life down there, there is always a bit of niggle and a few fun words exchanged.

"Obviously we have not played our best cricket in this game and to come out of the game with only two fewer points than Lancashire doesn't seem fair but that's nice.

"If we're being honest our form in the Championship has not been at its best this year but the T20 gives us a chance to free up and enjoy ourselves. Maybe we need to bring a little bit of that into four day cricket."