A record-breaking partnership between Sam Northeast and James Tredwell was not enough for Kent to avoid defeat against Essex at Chelmsford.

The pair, who came together with their side facing a mammoth innings defeat at 128/7 yesterday afternoon, added 222 runs together; Kent’s highest ever partnership for the eighth wicket in First Class cricket. Though their side still fell to an expected defeat – their first of the County Championship season – they showed real fight and bravery to keep their side in the game for as long as they did.

Tredwell was eventually dismissed for a highest First Class score of 124, while Northeast remained unbeaten towards the end, finishing on 166 not out as Kent were eventually dismissed for 370, leaving Essex to chase the academic total of nine runs to win.

They did so, unsurprisingly, and though the game will go down in the scorebooks as a 10-wicket win for the hosts, that will never tell the full story. Northeast and Tredwell batted for two full sessions without losing a wicket, and restored some pride to a Kent side who had been a distant second to Essex for the entirety of the earlier stages of this top-of-the-table clash in the Specsavers County Championship Division Two.

Resuming on 252/7, still 110 runs away from even making Essex bat again, the pair continued where they had left off on the previous evening. They kept out the good balls, put away the bad ones, and accumulated steadily. Even the new ball being taken three overs into the day failed to stall their progress.

Not long after midday, a Tredwell boundary brought up both the fourth First Class century of his career, and the record eighth wicket partnership for Kent in First Class cricket, against any opponent.

Early in the afternoon session, Tredwell went to his career-best score of 124, before the partnership was finally broken with the very next ball; the Kent off-spinner caught by ten Doeschate as he attempted to go after a short delivery from Matt Quinn.

Tredwell’s stay at the crease, and the partnership, had lasted for 80 overs, more than five hours, and had reached 222 when the Ashford-born 34-year-old finally left the crease.

Kent’s numbers 10 and 11, Kagiso Rabada and Mitch Claydon, added 5 and 1 respectively before also both falling to Quinn, leaving skipper Northeast unbeaten at the other end. The Kent captain received a well-deserved handshake from Alastair Cook as he left the field, having faced 320 balls for his 166 not out, in an innings that had lasted almost eight hours.

Essex’s opening pair of Nick Browne and Cook chased down the elementary total in 10 balls, leaving them the winners midway through the afternoon session of the fourth and final day.

Despite the defeat, the game is one likely to live long in the memories of many a Kent fan for the efforts of Northeast and Tredwell in their attempts to salvage the game for their side.

Specsavers County Championship Division Two, Essex v Kent at Chelmsford, July 3-6 2016:

Essex 569 (Bopara 94, ten Doeschate 91, Westley 88, Lawrence 82; Rabada 4-118) and 9/0 beat Kent 207 (Blake 89 not out) and 370 (Northeast 166 not out, Tredwell 124; Quinn 4-60) by 1o wickets.

Points – Essex 24, Kent 2

Essex: Browne, Cook, Westley, Bopara, Mickleburgh, Lawrence, ten Doeschate*, Foster†, Napier, Quinn, Porter

Kent: Cowdrey, Dickson, Denly, Northeast*, Stevens, Blake, Ball, Jackson†, Tredwell, Rabada, Claydon

Full scorecard available here.

Photograph courtesy of Sarah Ansell Photography