Kent League Round-Up: O’Riordan continues run-scoring
Tuesday 17th May 2022
Kent’s all-rounder, Marcus O’Riordan, who scored his maiden first class century for the county against Sri Lanka Development XI, was in fine form for his club side Tunbridge Wells, scoring 93 not out, with 11 boundaries, in their 232 for 6, away to Beckenham, in their Premier Division encounter.
It proved too many for the home side, who could only reach 176 for 9, from their 50 overs, Wells completing a comfortable 56 run victory. Wicket-keeper Sam Smith was also not out on 47, Junaid Nadir taking 3 for 55 for the hosts. In Beckenham’s total, James Frear scored 40, and there were two wickets apiece, for the visitors, for Ryan O’Bierne, and Liam McGroarty. O’Riordan took 1 for 20.
Zak Fagg scored an excellent century, 125 with 18 boundaries and one six for Sandwich, in their 266, which set up a convincing victory, as they defeated Blackheath by 138 runs, the visitors crashing to 127 all out in 38 overs. Tanweer Sikandar took 3 for 40 in the Sandwich innings, but it was Rory Smith, with 4 for 11, who turned the match the way of the home side, despite a valiant 51 for the visitors from Mahi Mahfuzul.
The rich vein of form by Kent’s Alex Blake continued with a century, as he propelled his Hayes side, newly promoted this season, to an exciting one wicket victory over visitors Sevenoaks Vine. He scored a run-a-ball 112, with just two boundaries and six sixes, as they chased down 236 for 9 winning score, replying to the Vine’s 233 for 5. Their skipper Luke Schlemmer scoring exactly 100 with 13 fours and two sixes, and Kent’s left arm spinner James Logan was 52 not out, all to no avail, as it proved.
Champions Bexley, have surprisingly started the season with two defeats, and they lost by just two runs at Lordswood. The home side only managed to score 160 in their innings, Bradley Goldsack top scoring with 29, but the visitors fell agonisi8ngly shy of a winning total, all out 158 in 43.2 overs, despite 65 from skipper Matt Stiddard. Tom Davis took 3 for 44 and Jack Laraman 3 for 22. In Lordswood’s innings, young Kent Paceman Jas Singh took 2 for 32, overseas fast bowler Ed Nuttall 2 for 13 and Shaun Evans 3 for 29.
Minster (Sheppey) were 14 run victors away at Bickley Park, Edward Moore scoring 54 and Joe Parry 52 in their 192 for 6. The home side could only reach 178 for 9 from their 50 overs, former Kent player Elliott Hooper 59, Aron Nijjar 3 for 13. In the Minster innings, Max Luckett, who made his Kent first class debut recently against the Sri Lankan Development XI, took 1 for 42 and Krishent Padmanabhan 2 for 35.
In Division One there was a massive 154 run victory for St Lawrence and Highland away at Bromley Common, Michael Hales scored 78 in their 203 for 7, and they then crushed the home side, skittling them out for a paltry 49 in 19.4overs, thanks to a sensational spell of bowling from Michael Edwards, seven wickets for 14 runs, in 9.4 overs. Jamie Hemphrey took the other three wickets for 34 runs.
A brilliant innings of 136 by Roshan Jayatissa, 136 with eight sixes and 15 boundaries, saw Linden Park to 266 for 7 at home to Canterbury for a 23 run victory, Canterbury all out for 243. Former Kent Second XI player Jarred Lysaught, having taken two wickets in the Park innings, scored 57 for Canterbury, and Jarryd Taig 53, but their side fell short of the winning target, Jayatissa completing his perfect day with 2 for 53.
The Mote visited Old Wilsonians and produced a two wicket victory chasing down a winning target of 208 for 8, with a ball to spare, replying to the home sides 207 for 9, J Christensen 59. S Sherlock hit 82 in the Wilsonian’s innings, Tom Harvey 3 for 28.
Relegated Bromley were five wicket winners at home to Holmesdale, thanks largely to a fine century from Jack Edwards, 122 not out with 10 fours and two sixes and Ollie Streets help set up their 211 for 5, winning score, with a half century 57, after they had bowled their visitors out for 210, Carlos Maynard 50.
By Peter Burrowes
