Kent League Round-Up: Weather-affected week

Whilst gardeners in Kent were rejoicing over the heavy rainfall, cricketers were not as happy as Kent Cricket League championships, promotion and relegation issues throughout the divisions were in the balance on the penultimate Saturday of the season.

Four out of the five Premier Division matches were abandoned without a ball being bowled, with the one outlier also ending as a no result. That match took place at Blackheath where they entertained Minster in the knowledge that a win could have been important for whoever won.

The hosts would have gone second with title chances still alive, while the team from Sheppey would have moved out of the bottom two with the eighteen points.

When the match got underway, it was set at twenty five overs per side and the home team were asked to bat first. Kent II’s all-rounder, Tejpal Birdi, and Mason Robinson both departed early before George Wells crashed 39 off just 20 balls before being run out. Eesa Faheem struck a quick fire 30 before Golding was ninth to fall for 34. The Heath finished on 152 for 9. Bill Prideaux, James Speer and James Thompson claimed two wickets apiece with the latter’s figures the most impressive, conceding just fifteen runs from his five overs.

In their reply, Minster’s Ben Chapelhow scored a quick 22 before joining his fellow opener Thompson in being dismissed by Arafat Bhuiyan. Two more wickets tumbled before the teams were forced off by further rain with the score on 74 for 4 from 13 overs, and the match was abandoned.

No matches were started in the leagues below until down to the regional divisions in which Fridsbury beat Cobham in Division 5 (Spitfire).

Hopefully, the weather will be kinder next Saturday with St Lawrence & Highland Court eight points clear of Hayes, and Tunbridge Wells and Blackheath not out of it totally. Lordswood and Minster will hope to climb out of the bottom two but should Whitstable win at Bexley, there will be nothing that they can do.

By Mark Doig, Kent Sports News

Photo by Keith Gillard

The Rothesay County Championship concludes in Canterbury this September

Get your tickets now to save on on-the-day prices:

Get your tickets here

Entry is included in all Kent Memberships & Youth/Junior Season Tickets!