Blake hits century as Beckenham win Premier League
Sunday 3rd September 2017
Alex Blake smashed a season-best 146 as Beckenham beat bottom side Holmesdale to win the Shepherd Neame Kent Premier League on home turf.
The hosts posted 313-5 with Blake dominating the relegated side’s attack before Beckenham bowled out the visitors for 155 at Foxgrove Lane.
At the other end of the table, 2016 champions Hartley Country Club were relegated following defeat at home to runners-up Bexley.
Several Bexley batsmen got starts in a total of 191 with Scotland wicketkepper-batsman Matt Cross top-scoring with 46.
In reply, the hosts were bundled out for 110 with James Hockley and Dominic Hendricks each scoring 30, the only players to reach double figures. In-form Adam Riley took 4/28 for Bexley.
Sevenoaks Vine avoided the drop with a fine 61-run win at fifth-placed Blackheath.
Skipper Oliver Durrell’s 82 was the platform for a total of 228-7 before Karl Pearson and Tom Coleman took three wickets apiece to guarantee safety.
Fourth-placed Lordswood edged out a tight, low-scoring contest against Tunbridge Wells thanks to a superb bowling display at The Nevill Ground.
Basit Raja took 4/43 and Jack Laraman’s 3/26 for the visitors as Wells were dismissed for 151.
In reply, Jack Laraman’s 59 helped guide Lordswood to the target with three wickets and 11.2 overs to spare.
The match between Tenterden in sixth spot and third-ranked Sandwich Town was abandoned without a ball bowled due to a damp pitch.
Bickley Park and Bromley Common will replace Hartley and Holmesdale in the top flight in 2018 with Hayes and Whitstable demoted to Division Two.
Elsewhere in Division One, Charlie Hartley took 1/24 as Dartford were defeated at home to Linden Park.
In Division Two, Broadstairs defeated promoted Folkestone at home with academy scholar Isaac Dilkes scoring 59 not out after James Tredwell had top-scored with 36 and took 1/33 in 10 overs with the ball.
St Lawrence & Highland Court won the Division Two title with Gravesend and Sibton Park demoted to Division Three.
In Division Three, Ashford Town and Orpington won promotion with Hythe and Catford Wanderers going down.
In Division Four, Minster (Sheppey) and OD CUACO were the top two and Old Williamsonians and Offham forming the bottom two.
In Division Five, Walmer and High Halstow go up a division and Chislehurst and Westgate-on-Sea were at the foot of the table.