Kent Cricket League Round-Up: Title chase rumbles on
Tuesday 31st August 2021
The Premier Division title of the Kent Cricket League is still up for grabs for either Bexley or Sandwich, and will go to the wire, after Adam Riley’s top of the table side suffered a shock one-run home defeat to Beckenham.
Bexley will now have to win their final match of the season, away to second placed Tunbridge Wells, at the Nevill Ground, on Saturday, to become champions, but Sandwich, with two games to play, can still snatch the title from them, if the North Kent side lose again, and they win their two remaining matches, away to Lordswood, and at home to bottom club Bromley, on Saturday week.
Bexley have a 20 point lead over Tunbridge Wells, and as they are playing each other, Wells cannot get above their opponents, even if they win Saturday’s match, but they can damage Bexley’s hopes of success, especially with Sandwich ready to bounce, with the points available to them from their match in hand.
Kent Academy scholar Jas Singh took 4 for 32 as Beckenham reached 192 for 9 from their 50 overs, James Fear 65, Jamie Ahmed 48. Bexley recovered from 78 for 6 to 169 for 7, when wicketkeeper Ben Alfred, was stumped out for 70. Chasing victory the home side lost their last three wickets for one run, 168 all out, and a damaging defeat.
All rounder Ahmed, picked up 4 for 21.and Johann Malcolm 3 for 45.
If Bexley can win the title they will dedicate it to their late scorer, Fred White, whose funeral takes place at Eltham Crematorium, at 11:45 on Thursday, September 9. Fred was the club scorer for 13 years, which included over 200 first team games.
Any hopes Wells had of becoming champions were dashed when they went down by three wickets, at Sandwich. They were bowled out for 173, Virat Bhatra 41, David Smith 54, former Kent Academy student, Jan Gray, 3 for 48. The home side reached the winning target 174 for 7, Rory Smith 62.
Holmesdale, were 79 run winners away at Blackheath, thanks largely to a century 108, with 14 fours from Lake Blackeby in their 225 total, Rishi-Roy Mukherjee 4 for 26. In reply Heath were bowled out for 146, Ben Fawcitt 4 for 42, Mike Bryant 3 for 41.
Sevenoaks Vine, lost at home to Lordswood, by four wickets. The reached a winning score of 265 for 6, with Linden Lockhart scoring 59 and Taylor Chandler, unbeaten on 55. The Vine had scored a respectable 263 for 4, Chris Vernon, 68, Sam Seecharan 62, but it proved not enough.
The local Derby between Bickley and Bromley, was won by the home side by 20 runs. Satwaan Imitiaz scored 78 for Bickley in their 180, Jason Benn 5 for 25, as the bottom club were all out for 160, Richard Selvey Clinton 47.
There was another thrilling one run victory in the First Division, as Folkestone got the better of The Mote, in their home game. They were indebted to wicket-keeper Jacob Miltz, who hit 13 fours and a six, in an innings of 105 and Josh Bryan got 53 in their victory score of 232 for 8, Matt Sandler 4 for 37, after the visitors were bowled out for 231, Phil Apps 79, Dan Mason 52, Nick Ward 3 for 58.
In a low scoring match, Bromley Common beat visitors, HSBC, by five wickets. Sam Perks made 40 and Leigh Walker took 3 for 31, as HSBC slumped to 118 all out. It took the home side just 20.5 overs, to knock off the winning total 120 for 5, Ray at Sharon 58.
Kent’s Alex Blake took 2 for 48 and scored 10 runs in Hayes’ four wicket success at home to Canterbury. The visitors were 183 for 9, Ed Govier 49 not out, Kent Second Eleven player, Jarred Lysaught, 38, and former Kent Second team all-rounder, Will MacVicar 5 for 41. Miguel Barbosa hit 59 for Hayes, as they won with 184 for 6.
Minster (Sheppey), were 18 run victors away to St Lawrence and Highland Court. They scored 234 for 8, Ed Moore 76, Chris Piesley 60, Joshua Julian 4 for 28. They then bowled the home side out for 214, Kai Appleby took four wickets and Michael Hales scored 58 for St Lawrence.
Linden Park won away at Sidcup, by four wickets, 167 for 6, Justin MacVicar 67, after bowling out the home side for 165, James Speer 3 for 44.
By Peter Burrowes
