Shepherd Neame Kent Cricket League – week 3 round-up

Blackheath made it thee wins out of three and top the table at this early stage as they defeated Hartley by 5 wicket at the Rectory Field on Saturday, writes Errol Valentine.

Hartley chose to bat first but Charlie Hemphrey apart with 94, their batting form somewhat deserted them as they were bowled out for 194 in the 42nd over.

Jahid Ahmed took a hat trick in mid innings to send Hartley from 120-4 to 120-7 as Hemphrey watched on to then help a recovery. Ahmed ended with 4-42. He then opened up with a useful 46 and with Tanweer Sikander adding an unbeaten 71 he steered Blackheath home for the loss of five wickets in the 37th over.

At Beckenham, the home side were soundly outplayed by an impressive looking Sandwich side. Beckenham elected to bat but the Sandwich seamers, headed by Matt Hunn, 3-28, all bowled with good pace, line and length.

Assisted by a range of injudicious stroke play by the Beckenham top order the home side soon found themselves 69-7 and although a small recovery was made by Johan Malcolm 29 and David Draper 21 their final total of 129 was unlikely to be nearly enough. Liam Evans with 4-29 bowled well and did much of the damage to the middle/lower order.

Led by an impressive unbeaten 58 by opener Alex Smith, Sandwich cantered home in the 39th over for the loss of just four wickets.

Sevenoaks Vine had an impressive win as they overhauled visitors Tunbridge Wells by 82 runs. The start was slightly delayed by rain and Sevenoaks Vine were invited to bad when the start came in a 104 over game.

Michael Barber made an impressive unbeaten 109 and Nicholas Sale 75 as the home side closed on 254-4 after their 52 overs.

The Tunbridge Wells top order were disappointing. Although Alex Williams made 43, they found themselves at 75-7.

With credit to Tunbridge Wells, they kept the required rate on target, Robert Sehmi scoring 38 and David Smith 50 not out, but with Tom Parsons bagging 4-45, their demise came at 172 in only the 36th over when their final wicket fell.

Folkestone invited their hosts Bromley to bat first at Plaistow Lane. They found Richard Selvey-Clinton in fine form as the Bromley opener made an impressive 110 and with a useful knock of 64 by Charlie Hartley to follow Bromley reached 258-7 at the end of their 55 overs. There were three wickets apiece for Sam Ireland and Hugh Bernard.

At 200-2 with Himanshu Waingankar and Ben Harmison at the crease, Folkestone looked in with a good chance of victory.

Pip France then removed Harmison for 30 off 29 balls and caused a middle order collapse as Folkestone tumbled to 215-8, France taking five of the six wicket to fall ending with figures of 5-54.

Himanshu Waingankar completed his century to end on an unbeaten 111 but Folkestone ended 31 short of their target with eight down to give Bromley a winning draw.

Bexley amassed an impressive 303-5 at Manor Way but were just able to take eight Lordswood wickets as their visitors clung on for a losing draw.

For Bexley it was Sam Heazlett who led the way with an unbeaten 98, Adam Ball made a useful 93 and George Wells 57. Despite 38 from Chris Piesley, Lordswood found themselves at 89-7 when Dan Masters joined Oliver Lea.

The two battled hard and although Masters was finally out for 54, Lea stayed put till the end and Lordswood closed on 197-8. Jason Benn was the pick of the Bexley bowling with 4-33.

SHEPHERD NEAME KENT CRICKET LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION RESULTS

Beckenham 129-10 lost to Sandwich Town 133-4 by 6 wickets

Bexley 303-5 winning draw against Lordswood 197-8

Blackheath 198-5 beat Hartley 194-10 by 5 wickets

Bromley 258-7 winning draw against Folkestone 228-5

Sevenoaks Vine 254-4 beat Tunbridge Wells 172-10 by 82 runs