COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO, Canterbury:
Leicestershire 148 and 350-2 drew with Kent 453 (Kent 12pts, Leics 7pts)

Nixon had hit only 293 Championship runs in seven previous games in 2009

Veteran Paul Nixon saved Leicestershire from a likely defeat by his old county Kent at Canterbury with a remarkable final-day career-best century.

The former Kent wicketkeeper plundered 173 not out, surpassing the 144 he made against Northants three years ago.

Starting the day on 97-0, the visitors needed 208 more to make Kent bat again.

But Nixon and Matthew Boyce (98) took their first-wicket stand to 204, before Boeta Dippenaar (30no) and Josh Cobb (28) helped see their side to 350-2.

Once Leicestershire had passed the follow-on target, a draw from this rain-affected game was inevitable. And all that was left was what score 38-year-old former England one-day keeper Nixon finally finished on.

But this game will still go down in the Kent record books as the one with which they sealed the County Championship Division Two title.

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