Surrey showed fighting qualities worthy of their status as the best county side in the country to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat against Kent at Canterbury.

Surrey were 146 runs short of victory with three wickets in hand at the start of play, but the task was made to look easy as Ian Ward posted an unbeaten 168 to guide his side to a two-wicket win.

After suffering their first championship loss of the season to Warwickshire last week, this victory safeguards their position at the head of Division One.

Ward, who was 115 not out overnight, was given vital support from tail-enders Saqlain Mushtaq and James Ormond.

The Pakistani and Ward were brought together after Kent had taken five wickets for 31 runs late on day three.

Their partnership flourished into the final day, but Surrey were still 97 runs short of an unlikely win when Saqlain was removed by Amjad Khan for 60.

The off-spinner struck six fours and two sixes in a 98-ball knock, the eighth wicket realising 105 runs and putting Surrey back into the picture.

Saqlain's dismissal would be Kent's only moment of joy as Ward and Ormond batted with caution to edge Surrey closer to victory.

Ormond faced his share of the strike, hitting an unbeaten 43 off 110 balls with Ward counting 19 fours and a six in a heroic dig that spanned eight hours at the crease.

Kent: D P Fulton (Capt), R W T Key, E T Smith, A Symonds J B Hockley, P A Nixon (Wkt), M A Ealham, J M Golding, M M Patel, A Khan, M J Saggers.

Surrey: I J Ward, M A Butcher, M R Ramprakash, R Clarke, A D Brown, A J Hollioake (Capt), J N Batty (Wkt), I D K Salisbury, Saqlain Mushtaq, J Ormond, E S H Giddins.

Umpires: D J Constant and T E Jesty