Shepherd Neame Kent Cricket League, week 14 review

Leaders Bexley and second placed Beckenham claimed vital wins and third-placed Sandwich Town were rained off in a strong position to fall to 20 off the lead.

Despite heavy showers in Sevenoaks, where the top two were both playing, the rain stopped early enough for the top to pick up maximum points.

Bexley and Beckenham both totally outplayed their opponents yesterday. At Montreal Park, Jason Benn had no hesitation in inviting Holmesdale to bat first. Bexley were soon on top and remained so throughout.

The Bexley bowling and fielding were tight and Holmesdale struggled to get the ball away. They were in some trouble at 23-3 and there then followed the only partnership of any note of 44 between Luke Blackaby, 18 and Ed Bonner, 23.

Bexley skipper Jason Benn took a magnificent 6-22, bowling fast and straight, as demonstrated by five bowled, as Holmesdale collapsed to 101 all out.

Due to a short rain break in the first innings, the Bexley target was set by Duckworth, Lewis, Stern at 95 from 46 at tea.

A further break reduced this to 79 from 30. Callum Basey 45 not out and Christopher Laas, 25 made this look very comfortably strolling home in the 14th over with just Laas back in the pavilion. Sadly for Holmesdale, this loss almost seals their return to Division 1 next year.

It was similar tale down the road at the Vine, where invited to bat the home side were ripped apart by Will MacVicar and Tabish Khan who bowled fast and straight (four of the seven bowled) to leave the Vine reeling at 58-7, MacVicar taking 4-25 and Khan 3-22. Only Olly Howick 22 and John Bowden 12 reached double figures.

The change bowlers finished off the job and the Vine were bowled out for 83. Rain, as in the other match in town, brought out DLS and the Beckenham target became 59 from 26.

It took just 7.4 of these for Beckenham to knock off the runs, one down, with Alex Blake scoring an unbeaten 41. This, and the win for Tunbridge Wells toady, leaves the Vine with plenty to do to avoid both the two Sevenoaks sides going down.

Title chasers Sandwich were stranded on a decent 209-2 off 34.4 overs against Hartley, Kai Appleby on 84 and Alex Smith 46 when the rain came and prevented any further play.

As mentioned previously, Tunbridge Wells picked up a much needed win as they beat Tenterden by 52 runs (DLS).

This opens their lead over Sevenoaks Vine to 25 points, but with 72 points still to play for, this battle for survival is surely not over? Invited to bat by their visitors Tenterden, four of the Wells batsmen reached decent scores.

Nicholas Sale scored 60, former Kent Cricket Academy scholar Marcus O’Riordan scored 55 not out, Chris Williams hit 52 and Christian Davies got 49 as they built to very steady total of 260-6 in a slightly shortened 48 overs.

Rain and thus DLS set Tenterden 206 from 32 to chase at 6.44 an over. Not an easy task. Tenterden had a go but lost wickets in so doing. Alex Williams picked up 3-24 as wicket fell regularly and Tenterden ended on 154-9 and 52 runs short.

The final game at Lordswood was almost a complete wash out Blackheath scoring just 28-2 when the heavens opened.

Two key title fixtures take place in the next three weeks with Beckenham entertaining Sandwich this coming weekend and travelling to Bexley on the 26th. It looks quite possible though the Premier title may not be decided till the final day of the season.