Cricket: KENT TITLE CHARGE HITS THE BUFFERS.

KENT'S County Championship hopes are fading after they could only hang on for a draw against Middlesex at Lord's.

The nine points they received after play eventually ended with them 192 for seven - just 26 ahead of their opponents - now means they are 19.5 points behind leaders Nottinghamshire.

On a rain affected final day, Middlesex declared on their overnight score of 550 for nine and despite a solid start with 52 from Robert Key helping them to 90 for one Kent then lost four wickets for 28 runs. South African's Justin Kemp (30) and Andrew Hall (37 not out) slowed the fall of wickets and took Kent into credit before stumps were drawn.

The mid-table Division Two clash between Somerset and Northamptonshire at Taunton also finished in a draw after the final day was washed out Former South African and Warwickshire fast bowler Allan Donald will lace up his boots alongside the likes of Brian Lara and Jonty Rhodes in two games as part of the Jacques Kallis Benefit Year in South Africa later this month.

Donald has been named in a star-packed Jacques Kallis Invitational XI who will face the South African side at Newlands and at Centurion