Kent League Round-Up: No change at the top
Tuesday 1st August 2023
After last weeks washouts, there was plenty of action in the Premier and Championship Kent Cricket Leagues.
The Metro Bank One Day Cup returns in the school Summer Holidays!
Kent Spitfires will defend their title at home matches both in Canterbury & Beckenham:
Buy tickets now
Bexley Cricket Club consolidated their position at the top of the Premier Division, of the Kent Cricket League, with a thumping 133 run victory, over struggling bottom club Holmesdale, and have a nine point, lead over their nearest rivals, Lordswood, who also had a big win, beating Blackheath by 121 runs, at The Rectory Field. Third placed Tunbridge Wells, were in equally dominant form, with a 110 run win, at home to Sevenoaks Vine, who are in the second relegation spot. In the other two Premier matches, Sandwich were five wicket winners over Hayes, and St Lawrence and Highland Court beat Minster (Sheppey), by 89 runs.
George Haley scored 66, and Calum Basey 49, as Bexley were 225 for 9, from their 50 overs, Callum Gallagher 3 for 55 and Lee Carter 5 for 39. But the visitors to the Manor Way ground, were bundled out for just 92 runs, in 25 overs, Bexley captain, and former Kent player Adam Riley, 4 for 30. Carter, scored over half his sides runs, with an innings of 49.
Chatham based club, Lordswood, scored 282 for 7 from their 50 overs, skipper Calum MacLeod 90, with four sixes and nine fours, and Linden Lockhart 58. Blackheath in reply all out for 161 in 39.3 overs, Brendan Louw 31, former Kent Second Eleven player, Hugh Scott 4 for 45.
Kent Second Eleven wicket-keeper, Sam Smith, scored a century, 113, with four fours, and the same number of sixes, for Tunbridge Wells, in their 312 for 7 at the Nevill Ground, Calvin Johnson 54, Chris Williams 42, Luke Schlemmer 3 for 38. The Vine were dismissed for 202, despite a belligerent innings from Ben Price, which included six sixes, and nine boundaries, Matt Baker 3 for 43, Michael Waller 3 for 46.
Former Kent all-rounder, Darren Stevens, thrashed 11 fours and five sixes, in an innings of 115, for St Lawrence, as they reached 276 for 6, Will Hilton 53, Dan Masters 3 for 38. The visitors, Minster falling well short of their winning target, 187 all out, James Thompson 44, Jamie Hemphrey 3 for 42.
Kent Second Eleven player, Gareth Severin, made 67 for Hayes, in their 189, away at Sandwich, Alex Smith 3 for 30, but the home side reached their victory target, 193 for 5, in 41.2 overs, Zak Fagg 53, Rory Smith 45, Alfie Pack 3 for 33.
The chase for promotion from the Championship Division is hotting up, Canterbury, taking over as leaders from Bickley Park, who drop to second. Former Kent Second Eleven player, Isaac Dilkes smashed 151 runs, for the home side at Polo Farm, as they scored 310 for 4, against Beckenham. Dilkes innings included three sixes, and 14 boundaries, Duncan Moore 75. In reply the visitors all out 188, Saad Khan 59, Ross Piller 47, Euan Munday 3 for 13, Syan Bulathsinhali 3 for 31, to give Canterbury a massive 122 run victory.
Bickley Park, were beaten by three wickets at Whitstable. They made 264 from their 50 overs, Safwaan Imitiaz 40, Sachin Mevada 54, Harry Fulton 4 for 59. The home side reached the winning total in 43.2 overs, 266 for 7, Bryan Gould, with an excellent century, 144, which included 15 boundaries and seven sixes.
There was a close encounter between Linden Park, and The Mote, the visitors winning by seven runs, in a low scoring match. The Maidstone side scored 207, Dylan De Villiers 60, Fergie Conway 55, Freddie Hulbert 3 for 36, Atif Khan 4 for 30. The home side fell just short, in their winning run chase, all out for 200, Matt White 49, Tom Harvey 3 for 34.
There was another century maker, with Scott McKechnie hitting 107, with 12 fours and a six, in Dartford’s winning score of 263 for 5, Elliott Alger 47, after visitors Folkestone made 259 for 7, Shaheer Malik 68, Eknoor Singh 42, Shaun Mc Murray 3 for 46, the home side five wicket winners.
Bottom club OD CUACO, lost by 46 runs, away at Bromley, all out 162, in reply to the home sides 208 for 6. For Bromley Fred Wilson was 51 not out, Nick Bluett 67, Jamie Batten 3 for 44. Jacob Pienaar made 37 for CUACO and Andrew Ainger 45.
By Peter Burrowes
