Kent Cricket League Round-Up: Sandwich still on top
Tuesday 29th June 2021
In their quest for the Premier Division title, Sandwich increased their lead at the top of the table to fourteen points, with victory over their nearest rivals, Tunbridge Wells, winning by 20 runs at The Nevill Ground.
Batting first, Sandwich scored 239 for 6, from their 50 overs, Tom Chapman hitting three boundaries and four sixes, in his innings of 96. Rob Goatham made 58. Isaac Bepey took 2 for 38 and Michael Waller 2 for 25.
In reply, Wells could only reach 219 for 8, Sam Stickler 43, Alex Smith 2 for 33 for the visitors.
Bexley were 42 run winners away at Beckenham, thanks to a fifth wicket partnership of 151 between captain, Matt Stiddard, 84, and George Haley, 56 in their 229 for 8.
Johan Malcolm 3 for 53. Malcolm then top scored with 54, for the home side as they struggled to 187 for 8, well short of their winning target. There were two wickets apiece for Ryan Cartwright, Marcus Ritson and Freddie Fisher, whilst former Kent all-rounder, Adam Ball took 1 for 32.
There were two low scoring matches which were over fairly quickly, Bickley Park beating Bromley by eight wickets, whilst Sevenoaks Vine won by seven wickets away at Lordswood.
In the local derby Bromley were bowled out for a meagre 86 runs, with four Park bowlers taking two wickets each, including Kent’s Second XI all-rounder, Elliot Hooper. The visitors then knocked the winning runs off, 87 for 2, in 19 overs.
In the other low scoring encounter Lordswood were dismissed for just 96, John Bowden taking 4 for 12 and Andrew Reid-Dick 4 for 18. Evert Becker scored 30, as The Vine knocked the winning runs off, 97 for 3, in 18.5 overs. Former Kent Academy student, Hugh Scott taking two of the three wickets.
Blackheath won by six wickets away to Holmesdale, Jack Hersh scoring 60 in their 208 for 4 after bowling the home side out for 206, despite 93 for Holmesdale from Carlos Maynard. Arafat Briuyan 3 for 33.
There were only three matches played in Division One, where the programme was disrupted by some teams having to cancel their matches because of Covid related issues, meaning Canterbury, St Lawrence and Highland Court, Minster (Sheppey) and Hayes were all unable to play.
In the matches that went ahead there were wins for Bromley Common, Linden Park, and Folkestone.
The Common were away winners at HSBC, who struggled to 110 all out. Leigh Walker took 4 for 28 and the all-rounder then scored 57 not out, as the visitors coasted to 111 for 2, for a comfortable victory.
Bottom of the Division, Sidcup, crashed to 69 all out away to Linden Park, Freddie Hulbert 3 for 23, Justin MacVicar 3 for 11. The home side cruised to their six wicket win, 72 for 4, Hulbert 22 not out.
The Mote suffered a disappointing defeat to Folkestone, Stuart Graham taking 4 for 11 for the visitors as the home side crashed to 120 all out, Tom Harvey 34. Graham then hit 57 runs with eight fours and two sixes in Folkestone’s winning total of 124 for 3, Kent’s Second XI wicket-keeper, Jacob Miltz, was 22 not out.
By Peter Burrowes
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