Kent League Round-Up: An Exciting Three Weeks Remain
Sunday 13th August 2023
With three rounds of matches in the season remaining, the past weekend has made the title chase for the Kent Cricket Premier League title even closer.
We’re back at Canterbury this Thursday!
Notts Outlaws travel to The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence this Thursday for Kent Spitfires’ first Metro Bank One Day Cup game in Canterbury this campaign.
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The battle for the Kent Cricket League Premier Division title could not be closer, after Lordswood moved to the top of the table, beating the previous leaders, Bexley, by three wickets, in their away fixture, and have a two points advantage, with three matches of the season remaining. Tunbridge Wells’ victory, away at Sandwich, puts them in third spot, six points behind, now second place Bexley, and eight behind, the Chatham based front runners.
Sevenoaks Vine gained a crucial win, away to Minster (Sheppey), to move out of the relegation places, Blackheath, replacing them in the danger zone, after a home defeat to Hayes. Bottom side Holmesdale, lost away to St Lawrence and Highland Court.
Bexley scored 231 for 8, from their 50 overs, against Lordswood, with an unbeaten century, 100 not out from Shaun Evans, with eight boundaries, Thando Ntini, 3 for 56. The visitors reached their winning target, 234 for 7, with two deliveries to spare, off 49.4 overs, with their skipper, Scottish international Calum MacLeod, scoring 74, and Ed Taylor 58., for a three wicket victory, Harry Dowling 4 for 37
In a very low scoring encounter, Tunbridge Wells were 24 run winners, at Sandwich, despite being all out for 101 in 32.1 overs, Calvin Johnson 22, Michael Waller, 21, Ben Smith 4 for 14, Alex Smith 3 for 26. Wells then bowled the home side out for just 77 runs, in 24.3 overs, Matt Barker 6 for 23, Waller 3 for 16.
The Vine won by 64 runs, away at Minster. They scored 173, Ben Price 41, Harry Houllion 40, Chris Piesley 3 for 10. The home side were all out for 109, former Kent Second Eleven player, Kai Appleby 47, Harry Robinson 6 for 30.
Hayes had a thrilling finish to their match, away at The Rectory Field, to Blackheath, winning by just one run. Kent batter, Alex Blake, scored 30 for the visitors, in their 124 all out, Tanweer Sikanda 5 for 37, but Heath fell short of victory, all out for 123, Kent Second Eleven player, Jas Bassan 34, Alfie Beck 4 for 21.
Bottom club, Holmesdale could only make 146 runs, away at St Lawrence, Will McDowell 40, John Grewer 4 for 32. The home side winning by five wickets, 148 for 5, Jack Heuson 36, Will Hilton 39, Matt Hammond 32 not out, Callum Gallagher 3 for 31.
Canterbury maintained their lead, at the top of the Championship Division, in their bid for promotion, 22 points clear of Bickley Park, who are second, now just two points ahead of Bromley, who they lost to in the local derby at the weekend. OD CUACO and Folkestone are in the relegation places, with Linden Park, just above them.
Former Kent Second Eleven player, Isaac Dilkes scored 66, in Canterbury’s, 225 for 6, against Linden Park, at Polo Farm, Jarred Lysaught 59, Lewis White 46, James Speer 4 for 41, to win by 40 runs, as Park, were all out for 185, Atif Khan 49, Ewan Munday 2 for 32, Syan Bulathsinhala 2 for 49.
Bromley, beat Bickley Park, by four wickets, reaching their winning target 194 for 6, after the visitors had been dismissed for 193, Sachin Mevada 60, Dan Magin 60, Marcus Lilley 3 for 19. Jameel Mulla hit 74 runs, and Stan Greenleaf 41, in the home sides victory.
CUACO were involved in a thrilling tied match, at home to The Mote. Batting first they scored 235 for 8, Chris Webster 57, the visitors bowled out for the same score, Michael Ruffell 81 not out, Nick Worsley 3 for 37, Chris Webster 3 for 43.
Saad Khan scored a century, exactly a 100, with 13 fours for Beckenham, in their away match at Dartford, but still finished up on the losing side, in their 245 for 7, Gethin Roberts 69, Jack Stanford 3 for 28. A five wicket win for the Hesketh Park side, with an over to spare, 247 for 5, Ben Chapelhew 72, Gurveer Singh Saini 41, Khan 2 for 48.
Whitstable captain Sam Denly scored 69, Harry Fulton 46, and Bryan Gould 40, in their winning 198 for 5 total, after bowling out visitors Folkestone for 197, for a five wicket win, Shahab Sheik 69, Eknoor Singh 47, four bowlers taking two wickets apiece for the home side.
By Peter Burrowes
