Kent League Round-Up: Bexley off the mark

Thursday 26th May 2022

Kent League Round-Up: Bexley off the mark

Premier Division champions, Bexley, after losing their first two matches, got their season up and running with a four wicket victory over Sandwich. It was the 10th occasion the visitors had played at Manor Way, and have failed to win at the venue.

Former Kent all-rounder Adam Ball, making his first appearance of the season for the home side, took 4 for 37, as Sandwich were bowled out for 176 in 49 overs, Zak Fagg 78, Alex Smith 40. Bexley paced their innings perfectly, winning in 47.1 overs, 177 for 6, skipper Matthew Stiddard scoring 74. David Grant 2 for 35, Ben Smith 2 for 37.

Sevenoaks Vine crashed to 45 all out in 22.2 overs, as Blackheath beat them by 136 runs, the visitors all-rounder, Jehid Ahmed, was their star performer, scoring 44 in their 181, and then producing brilliant bowling figures of 5 for 14 to destroy Vine’s batting, in which Michael Cowdrey, with 11 runs, was the only home player in their innings to reach double figures. There was also an impressive 3 for 6 from Arafat Bhuiyan. In the Blackheath innings, Reid-Dick  and Luke Schlemmer both took 3 for 24.

Bickley Park gained a convincing 67 run victory over Beckenham, bowling their visitors out for a meagre 86 in 40.5 overs, after they themselves had scored 153, Alex Moen 52, Kamran Khan 4 for 19, Adam Senn 3 for 26. Kent Second XI player Max Luckett, who recently made his first team debut took 3 for 11, and Dan Magin 4 for 17, both doing the damage to the Beckenhm innings, with some excellent bowling.

Promoted Hayes picked up their third successive victory in an impressive start to the season, Kent’s Alex Blake helping them to a five wicket win away to Minster (Sheppey), who were bowled out for 111, Oliver Dewey 46, Stuart Endicott 3 for 11. Blake then scored 56 not out with six sixes and a boundary as Hayes, 116 for 5 reached their winning total in 27.5 overs, Dan Masters 2 for 24.

In a very low scoring match at The Nevill Ground, Tunbridge Wells were four wicket winners over Lordswood, where batting proved difficult for both sides. The visitors were all out for 87 in 40.2 overs, Jack Laraman 26, Christian Davis 3 for 12, Michael Waller 3 for 6. Wells lost six wickets in struggling to a winning 88 for 6, Chris Williams 21, Laraman 2 for 20.

In Division One, former Kent Second XI all-rounder Jarred Lysaught produced an excellent bowling performance to propel Canterbury to a three wicket win, in a low scoring match at Polo Farm. He took 5 for 25 as Old Wilsonians slumped to 71 all out, Alex Beck 3 for 20. The home side took 25.2 overs to reach their small winning target, 72 for 7,  Ishmail September 4 for 39.

Another low scoring encounter was the local derby between Bromley and Bromley Common, the home side successful with a seven wicket win. Common were bowled out for 77, Richard Selvey Clinton 3 for 21, Usama Salamat an impressive three wickets for four runs. Ollie Street scored 24 not out in Bromley’s winning total of 79 for 3, Vidur Goel 2 for 22.

Dartford were thrashed at their Hesketh Park ground, losing by 149 runs to The Mote, dismissed for just 62 runs, replying to the visitors 211 for 6. Phil Apps 73, Jesse Christensen 46. Ian Playfoot 3 for 29 and Matt Sadlers 6 for 20 demolishing the home sides innings.

There was  a big win for Holmesdale by 162 runs at home to Folkestone, who collapsed to 87 all out replying to 249 for 8. In the Holmesdale innings, Max Lindsay scored 64, S Sheikh 3 for 43. D May 4 for 16 and B Fawcett 3 for 18, bowled the home side to their win.

Canterbury based, St Lawrence and Highland were 70 run winners over Linden Park. Their 189 for 8, Matt Hammond 33, Sully Gould 30, Carl Tapp 4 for 32 proved too many for the visitors 119 all out, Justin MacVicar 39, Michael Edwards 3 for 21, Charlie Nash 3 for 15.

After the first three matches of the season Hayes head the Premier Division with 54 points ahead of Tunbridge Wells on 41, whilst there are joint leaders at the top of Division One, with St Lawrence and Highland and The Mote both on 54 points.

By Peter Burrowes

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