Worcestershire fail to secure victory after Kent's marathon innings

The job is not quite done for Worcestershire following some batting heroics from Kent's Jack Leaning.

Despite Worcestershire's best efforts in the Vitality County Championship match at Canterbury, Leaning's defiant knock of 152 runs carried Kent to 362 for eight at close, leaving them within sight of forcing out a draw.

Leaning powered through three sessions, with his performance backed by debutant Beyers Swanepoel, who netted 54 runs.

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Yet, the home side remain 256 shy of their opponents after a gruelling third day.

The day's proceedings were marred by the Pears bowlers' struggles to secure valuable wickets on the unyielding Canterbury pitch.

Worcestershire's Matthew Waite managed to bag the modest haul of three wickets for 51 runs.

Yet only an additional three wickets tumbled in what proved to be a sapping day in the field for the visitors.

With the scoreboard reading 111 for two at the beginning of the third day, Kent proceeded without hassle for the first half hour.

Leaning achieved a career milestone, registering his 50th first-class innings, yet it was Waite's two dismissals that briefly halted their progress.

Leaning, with backup from Harry Finch, managed to steady the seas, ensuring that Kent reached 179 for four by the lunch break.

Finch's stubborn 106-ball resistance met an unfortunate end when Waite claimed him right after the interval, as he was caught at cover by Rob Jones.

Despite the dismissal, Worcestershire endured a barren afternoon session as the hitting track and grassy outfield laid motionless.

The Pears fielding, youthful in energy, yet novice in skill, combined with the lifeless track, restricted the arrival of boundaries until the 21st over when Joey Evison punched Waite through the covers.

Following Ben Gibbon's dismissal of Evison for 27, Swanepoel took to the field for Kent.

The debutant, initially shaky, played with growing confidence, nearly hitting Holder onto the stumps on his way to a half-century.

Together with Leaning, the duo fell just three runs short of a second batting point as the game approached the 110th over mark.

The day culminated with Leaning's towering shot for four, adding to his 152 – but not before Worcestershire’s Kashif Ali sparked some life into the day’s final stages, dismissing Wes Agar for just six runs.

Following proceedings, Worcestershire's Kadeer Ali said: "I thought it was a really good effort from all the bowlers today, four sessions in the field, to go for two and a half an over and for 96 overs today. I’m really proud of the boys."