SEEING Sohail Tanvir stroll nonchalantly around the boundary must have compounded Jimmy Adams’ frustration as Hampshire failed to secure a much-needed LV County Championship win against Kent.

Hampshire’s new signing will make his Championship debut against Gloucestershire on Wednesday, but how Adams must have wished he could throw the ball to the strike bowler as Kent held on for a draw at The Ageas Bowl on Saturday.

Tanvir, whose first-class career has yielded 255 wickets at just 24 apiece, is a timely boost.

Once the new ball had softened on what was a relatively flat last-day wicket, Hampshire lacked a cutting edge and had to settle for a fourth successive draw as their Pakistan international began his first county stint with a relaxed net session.

But it was a fascinating last day that provided compelling viewing throughout and both captains should be commended for it.

After the tedious, rain-affected stalemates against Lancashire and Northants, it was refreshing to see Adams and particularly Geraint Jones risk defeat in pursuit of victory.

Incredibly, Jones was criticised by a Kent supporter for his decision to declare on 321-7, 134 runs behind, thereby denying his side an extra couple of bonus points – but increasing their chances of a 16-point victory haul.

“I was disappointed when a supporter came up to me and rubbished the decision, saying we were throwing away points, because the benefit of winning is huge and that’s something we’re very mindful of,” said Jones.

That Kent fan was in a very small minority. A decent Championship crowd watched intrigued as the final day went the distance, with all three results possible for most of it.

While there was more at stake for Lancashire a fortnight ago, Peter Moores and Glen Chapple would have done well to adopt Jones’s glass-half-full policy and remember that 16 points for a win against three for a draw is a gamble worth taking.

The only flip side to the Jones/Adams collaboration was the declaration bowling that inflated the averages of Liam Dawson and James Vince, before Kent set about chasing 342 in a minimum of 84 overs.

It was a small price well worth paying.

Having served up the fodder that set up the chase, openers Sam Northeast and Rob Key were soon sent on their way by former Kent teammate David Balcombe, who bowled an impressive new-ball spell (6-0-15-2).

Key was caught at first slip and then a rising delivery squared up Northeast, whose leading edge ballooned to Michael Carberry at deep gully.

James Tomlinson and David Griffiths then accounted for former West Indies batsman Brendan Nash, caught low by Neil McKenzie at mid-wicket, and Ben Harmison, in successive overs as Kent slipped to 41-4.

But as the ball aged, a fifth-wicket partnership of 144 between Darren Stevens and Daniel Bell-Drummond gave Kent real hope.

Stevens was magnificent, facing only 105 balls for his 96, which included 15 fours and two sixes, one driven high over long-on against Briggs.

He ensured that Kent maintained the required four-runs-an-over, while 19 year-old Bell-Drummond dropped anchor with a more patient 66 (156 balls, eight fours).

While they were at the crease, anything was possible. But as tea approached, and with his second century of the season in sight, Stevens took on Sean Ervine and fell into the trap, edging an attempted hook to Adam Wheater.

That was the only wicket to fall during the afternoon session. But then Danny Briggs struck in successive overs from the Pavilion End, James Vince taking two catches at short leg - the second an outstanding one-handed reaction snaffle - to remove Bell-Drummond and captain Jones.

With a second victory of the season in sight, Hampshire only took one more wicket during the last 31 overs and that a bonus run out by Adams, gifted by Matt Coles.

They were frustrated by rookies Adam Riley and Calum Haggett, who saw out the last 129 balls - including ten overs against the second new ball - with no major alarms.

Vince just failed to reach a half-chance at short-leg to see off Haggett and Riley got an edge against Griffiths that Adams was disappointed not to take at third slip.

But Hampshire did not test the ninth-wicket pair enough during the last hour and Riley, having taken 7-150, completed a memorable four days by finishing unbeaten on 21 – his second career-best of the match – as Kent closed on 296-8.