Shepherd Neame Kent Cricket League 2017, week 4

Alex Blake and academy scholar Oliver Robinson smashed half-centuries as Beckenham won at Lordswood.

Blake prepared for the T20 Blast with a trademark knock including five fours and three sixes in a knock of 51 off 48 balls.

Teenager Robinson, fresh from a substitute appearance in the first XI, hit 81 off 78 balls including seven fours and three sixes.

Hugh Bernard took 2/52 in ten overs for Lordswood as Beckenham posted 287 for seven.

In reply, Lordswood started well with the openers scoring 100 runs before collapsing to 160 all out.

Blake took two catches and Robinson one as Lordswood’s miserable start continued.

Sandwich Town maintained their perfect start of the season with a win against Bexley at The Butts.

Robert Goatham top-scored with 94 for Town before Kent second XI regular Grant Stewart smashed seven sixes in a blistering 61 off only 21 balls. Adam Riley bowled a tidy spell of 1/26 off 10 overs for Bexley.

In reply, another second XI player featured as opener Calum Basey smashed 140 but received little support as Kent Cricket Academy scholar Jan Gray picked up 3/49 with his leg spin.

As long as Basey remained at the crease, Bexley had a chance but he soon fell and Harry Furze’s 31 not out off 17 balls was not enough to prevent a seven-run defeat.

Champions Hartley Country Club enjoyed a 12-run win in a high scoring contest at home to Tunbridge Wells.

Batting first, James Hockley (136) and Dominic Hendricks (124) added 234 runs for the second wicket before James Thompson unleashed an unbeaten 57 off 24 balls as Hartley posted 326-3.

In reply, Wells skipper Alex Williams’ century kept the visitors in the hunt, supported by fifties from Michael Waller and Nick Sale.

Wells sacrificed wickets in the pursuit of a revised target of 317 from 48 overs before falling 12 runs short.

Blackheath beat Tenterden by a wicket in the final over of a thrilling contest.

Jacobus du Plooy hit a century for Tenterden before Tanweer Sikandar repeated the feat for Blackheath as they won with just two balls to spare.

Newcomers Holmesdale are still looking for their first win in the top flight after a four-wicket loss at home to Sevenoaks Vine.

After winning the toss, the hosts posted 209 with Miles Richardson’s 4/64 and 3/38 by John Bowden restricting the scoring.

In reply, Harrison Smyth hit 90 not out and Zak Crawley scored 32 as the Vine won with 4.4 overs to spare.

In Division One, Imran Qayyum hit a half-century for Bromley as they won by 160 runs at Whitstable.

Charlie Hartley took 1/27 in ten overs for Dartford as they lost by 162 runs at The Mote.

Academy scholar Ollie Hills took 3/11 in seven overs as Dartford were dismissed for just 91.