Kent League Round Up: Curtiss hits century as League comes to a close

The only issue left to be decided from the last round of matches this season, in the Kent Cricket League programme, was who was unlucky enough to fill the second relegation place from the Premier Division, and join already relegated Holmesdale in the Championship Division next season.

Sandwich cricket club were the ones to fall through the net, after losing away to Lordswood, with Minster (Sheppey) escaping the drop by just one point.

Sandwich were always going to struggle to survive, after being bowled out for 133, Will Straker 4 for 20, Kent Second Eleven player, Joe Gordon 3 for 15. Lordswood cruised to a five wicket victory in 19.4 overs, Calum MacLeod 57, Roshan Jayatissa 4 for 57.

Minster were beaten by three wickets, away at Holmesdale, but just survived by the narrowest of margins. They made 226 for 9, Jamie Beard 49, Kent Second Eleven bowler Bill Prideaux 3 for 62. Yashraj Joshi made 93 in the home sides winning score 229 for 7, Callum Gallagher 4 for 36.

Kent League champions, Tunbridge Wells, who won the title with a match to spare, last weekend, lost their last game, by four wickets, away at St Lawrence and Highland Court. They were bowled out for 216, Chris Williams 69, Michael Waller 50. Shermon Lewis 4 for 30. Kent Academy student, and second team player, Ollie Curtiss an excellent century in the home sides winning 219 for 6 score, hitting 102, with four sixes and 11 fours.

Last seasons champions, Blackheath, who had been in the relegation mix, made sure of staying in the top flight with a 44 run victory, at home to Hayes, Matt Golding 48 not out in their 169 for 9, then bowling their visitors out for 125, Aaron Burridge 51, Jas Bassan 4 for 20, Jahid Ahmed 3 for 23.

A convincing 62 run victory for Bexley, at home to Bromley, with all-rounder, Aiden Giggs taking the honours scoring 88 in their 210, Matt Stiddard 64, Marcus Lilley 3 for 38, then taking 3 for 15 as the visitors were 148 all out, Kent Academy student Oliver Butterfill 33, Oliver Smith 4 for 33.

The two promoted sides from the Championship Division, Sevenoaks Vine and Whitstable played each other, The Vine coming out on top, at home by seven wickets, reaching a winning 158 for 3, Luke Sclemmer 60 not out, after the visitors had been bowled out for 154, Schlemmer 4 for 24, Chris Vernon 3 for 34.

Relegated from the division are The Mote, and Leeds/Broomfield. to be replaced by Beckenham, and Gravesend Cricket Clubs. Leeds ended their disappointing season on a winning note, thrashing Bickley Park, at home by nine wickets, the visitors 155 all out, Elliot Hooper 64, Ed Scrivens 5 for 37, Will Donald 3 for 42, the home side 157 for 1, George Davis 103.

The Mote crashed to 62 all out, away at Bromley Common, Stan Moore, four wickets for eight runs, Sam Archer 3 for 19, the home side a 10 wicker victory 66 for 0, in just seven overs.

Dartford beat Broadstairs, at home by 111 runs, after scoring 203, Elliot Alger 78, Brad Ellison 4 for 40 they bowled their visitors out for 92, James Thompson 4 for 25.

A comfortable win for Canterbury, by 61 runs, away at Folkestone, Kent Second Eleven player, Bryce Street scoring 134, in their 269 for 6, the home side only reaching 208 for 8 from their 50 overs, Jarryd Taig 3 for 59, Jarred Lysaught 3 for 35.

By Peter Burrowes

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