Kent League Round-Up: Tunbridge Wells top the Premier Division
Wednesday 14th June 2023
Tunbridge Wells Cricket Club have established a 10 point lead in the Premier Division, and remain unbeaten, after the opening six matches of the Kent Cricket League, following their victory over Sandwich. They have 99 points, with Lordswood moving into second spot, after inflicting a first defeat of the season on Bexley, who drop to third.
The Kent Spitfires will welcome Middlesex to ‘Fortress Canterbury’ in a floodlit, Friday night T20 match on 23 June.
Buy your tickets now to avoid disappointment & lock in supporting your Spitfires now in an exciting Summer of white-ball cricket:
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Wells, won by seven wickets, at the Nevill Ground, after bowling their visitors out for 147 in 41.2 overs. James Bazley top scored for the visitors with 36, Matt Barker 3 for 15. Chris Williams scored 61 for the home side, as they eased to victory, 149 for 3 in 25.1 overs, Ben Smith 2 for 42.
Lordswood, were five wicket winners, at home to Bexley, former Kent Second Eleven player, Joe Gordon 62 not out, in their 180 for 5, winning score off 38.5 overs, Ed Taylor 60, Shaun Evans 2 for 27, after Bexley could only reach 178 for 9, from their 50 overs, Ahmed Jamal 42, Abdullah Nazir 3 for 25.
In a close finish Hayes beat Blackheath, at home by one wicket. The visitors scored 239 for 7, Matt Golding 80, Ross Richardson 46, Tanweer Sikanda 40, Joe Cotton 2 for 27, Scott Gallagher 2 for 34.
There was one delivery remaining when Hayes reached a winning 242 for 9, Miguel Barbosa 43, Kent batter, Alex Blake, 47, Sikander 4 for 38, Golding 4 for 43.
Minster (Sheppey) were eight wicket winners away at Sevenoaks Vine, the home side bowled out for just 143, despite and unbeaten 50 from Sahil Shah, Chris Piesley 4 for 17. Ed Moore scored 88, with four sixes and 13 boundaries, as Minster comfortably reached their target 148 for 2 in 15.2 overs.
There was a seven wicket win for St Lawrence and Highland Court, away at Holmesdale, who have slipped to the bottom of the table. They were all out in 47.3 overs for 193, Leo carter 57, Olly Curtiss 3 for 20. Harry Wren, 87, with 15 boundaries, and three sixes,, Nash 57, as St Lawrence got their winning score 195 for 3 in 19.2 overs.
There was a one- man batting master class, in the Championship Division match, between Linden Park, and Canterbury, with the visitors Isaac Dilkes, the former Kent Second Eleven player, scoring a brilliant 174 runs, with five sixes and 23 fours, in his sides 327 for 8, the next highest scorer getting 30, Atif Khan 3 for 53. His side won by a massive 162 runs,, after the home team were bowled out for 165 in reply, Khan 55, Syan Bulrthsinhala 6 for 31.
Whitstable went down by 45 runs, away at Folkestone, all out for 163, in reply to the home sides 208. Joshua Lock 36, Tom Phillis 32 for the visitors, Rueben Coleman 3 for 33. In the Folkestone win, Shahab Sheik 75, with 12 boundaries, Liam Tegg 4 for 23, Stuart Drakeley 4 for 23.
O.D CUACO enjoyed a close two wicket win, at The Mote, with two deliveries to spare, 237 for 8, in reply to the home sides 236 for 7. Jacobus Pienaar 40, Chris Webster, 50, Dan Webster 43, Phil Apps 2 for 42, Tom Harvey 2 for 33. Michael Ruffell had scored 62 for The Mote and Chris Back 61, Chris Webster 3 for 61.
Two Kent Academy students were on the winning side, when Dartford got the better of Beckenham in their away fixture. Saad Khan 47, and Mahfuzul Maha 44 for the home side in their 182 all out, Kent scholar Barney Ford, an impressive 6 for 43. Then student Ekash Singh, scored 35 in the visitors 186 for 7, Garry Cook 34, Junaid Nadir 2 for 23, Nudit Dayal 2 for 37.
Division leaders Bickley Park won by 52 runs at home to near neighbours Bromley, who could only reach 199 all out, replying to Parks 251 for 9. For the home side Sachin Mevada 59, Dan Magin 40.Nick Bluett 56 for Bromley, Xavier Darroch 3 for 32, Elliott Hooper 3 for 45.
By Peter Burrowes
Friday night T20s are back soon!
The Kent Spitfires will welcome Middlesex to ‘Fortress Canterbury’ in a floodlit, Friday night T20 match on 23 June.
Buy your tickets now to avoid disappointment & lock in supporting your Spitfires now in an exciting Summer of white-ball cricket:
Buy tickets now
Members do not need to pre-book their space at T20 matches as per last season – entry will be gained by scanning a valid 2023 Kent Cricket Membership card at the gate.
Buy your T20 tickets now to save money, avoid disappointment & to lock in supporting your Spitfires during an exciting Summer of white-ball cricket!
Buy T20 tickets now
Members do not need to pre-book their space at T20 matches as per last season – entry will be gained by scanning a valid 2023 Kent Cricket Membership card at the gate.
Should seated areas such as the Frank Woolley Stand also sell-out, an allocation is set aside for Members & Six Pack Plus Ticket Holders.