Shepherd Neame Kent Cricket League, week 5 review
Saturday 3rd June 2017
Sandwich Town continued their perfect start to the summer with a fifth win from five games at Shepherd Neame Kent Cricket Premier League holders Hartley Country Club.
Alex Smith hit 122 and Rory Smith’s 84 off 43 balls pushed Sandwich to 309 for eight after the visitors elected to bat first.
Second XI regular Grant Stewart removed both openers in a fine ten-over spell of 2/32, both caught behind by Kent Cricket Academy wicketkeeper Jordan Cox.
Fellow academy scholar Jan Gray conceded 40 runs in his 10 overs of leg spin as Hartley tried to accelerate the scoring.
Alex Smith capped a fine all-round display with two wickets before skipper Matthew van Poppel struck three times to help seal a 34-run win to stretch their lead at the top of the table.
Fresh from a five-wicket haul for the second XI this week, seamer Hugh Bernard took 4/41 in nine overs for Lordswood as they dismissed Blackheath for 238 but could not prevent a 40-run defeat.
Adam Riley took 1/22 in ten overs as Bexley beat winless newcomers Holmesdale at home.
The hosts won the toss and posted 210 for five with Chris Laas’ unbeaten 97 the top score.
In reply, Harry Furze and Jason Benn did the damage for Bexley with the new ball, taking three wickets each as the visitors were bundled out for 159.
Alex Blake hit 34 in Beckenham’s 24-run win against Sevenoaks Vine before he was trapped LBW by team-mate Zak Crawley. Tabish Khan’s 4/40 helped seal the win for Beckenham.
Kent Cricket Academy graduate Sam Weller took 3-23 as Tenterden put Tunbridge Wells to the sword at Morghew Park.
Nicholas Sale (57) was the only noteworthy contribution as Tunbridge Wells were bowled out for just 157 in 44.4 overs before an unbeaten 96 by Christopher Vernon sealed an eight-wicket win in the 38th over.
In Division One, Charlie Hartley took 2/23 in ten overs for Dartford as they won at home to Whitstable by eight wickets.
Imran Qayyum took 2/41 and scored 31 not out for Bromley as they beat Linden Park.
Academy scholar Tom Davis took 2/21 in six overs as Canterbury defeated HSBC at Polo Farm.