Kent Cricket League Round-Up: Bexley win run chase in final over

Former Kent all-rounder Adam Ball helped Bexley to an exciting last over victory in the Premier Division match away to Holmesdale, the visitors winning with four balls to spare.

In a revised D/L total they were challenged to score 215 in 36 overs to win in reply to the home sides 206 for 5 from 40 overs.

Ball, who is one of Kent’s Boys Talent Pathway coaches, scored 66 in a fourth wicket partnership of 135 with Matthew Siddard (76). Rupert Harbig took 3 for 40 for Holmesdale.

In their innings, Carlos Maynard scored 75, and there were two Kent Academy scholars on opposite sides. Will Harby was 15 not out in the home teams total whilst Jas Singh took 2 for 46 for Bexley.

Sevenoaks Vine thrashed Blackheath at the Rectory Field, bowling the home side out for just 70 runs, Miles Richardson taking 3 for 17. The visitors then raced to a seven wicket victory scoring 63 for 3 in a revised target.

Former Kent fast bowler Ivan Thomas was in the Blackheath side.

The rain played havoc with most of the matches, a number of which were not completed despite having some action in the middle.

Kent Academy youngster, Joe Gordon was 56 not out for Sandwich in their 89 for 1 when their match at Bromley was abandoned. The home side had scored 161 for 9 in their innings.

It was a similar story at Bickley Park who scored 188 for 7, Elliot Hooper 70, Bailey Wightman 5 for 35 and Tunbridge Wells were on 57 for 2 when the players came off, beaten by the weather. Simarlarly at Lordswood where the home side were unable to start their innings after Beckenham had scored 190 for 5, Johan Malcolm 60.

In Division One, at The Mote, Maidstone were able to get a win beating home side Linden Park by 61 runs but there was disappointment for two former Beckenham players well known in Kent cricketing circles.

One day batting specialist Alex Blake, and all-rounder Will MacVicar have moved down the road and joined Hayes this season, and are helping the club in player coaching roles.

MacVicar, who has played a number of matches for Kent’s Second XI, scored a brilliant century, 140 for his new club and Blake hit 86, in a massive total of 303 for 4 at home to Sidcup, but all to no avail as the weather again won the day when the visitors were 25 for 1.

There were just six overs bowled at Polo Farm, in the match between Canterbury and Folkestone and another Division One game ruined by the weather with no definite result was HSBC (Kent) against St Lawrence and Highland Court, the visitors reaching 43 for 3 in reply to the hosts 156 all out.

Minster (Sheppey) scored 238 for 7, former Hampshire all-rounder Sean Ervine 54 at Bromley Common who were only able to reach 38 for 0 in their innings.

Former Kent all-rounder Fabian Cowdrey, who scored over 900 runs for Minster in 2019, has left the club and moved to Sutton in the Surrey League in a player-coach role.

By Peter Burrowes