Shepherd Neame Kent Cricket League – week 5 round-up

The lead at the top of the table is cut to just one point as Hartley grabbed 20 points at Sevenoaks Vine whilst leaders Blackheath were toppled at the Rectory Field by visitors Tunbridge Wells, writes Errol Valentine.

A convincing 181 run victory for Beckenham saw them creep up to third place just two points back from Hartley.

Sevenoaks Vine, having won the toss, had a dreadful day with the bat and were skittled out for just 131 in the 30th over of the game by Hartley.

Dan Redwood spearheaded the Hartley attack with 5-45 and James Thompson picked up 3-39. Only Anthony Shales with an unbeaten 51 added some respectability to the Vine total.

Hartley wasted no time chasing down the runs as James Hockley blasted 48 from 20 balls and Charlie Hemphrey 58 not out from 24 as Hartley romped home in just the 16th over.

An excellent 100 by Alex Blake, well supported by 69 from Raza Ali Dar and 55 by Will MacVicar enable Beckenham to post a formidable total of 304-8 against Folkestone at Foxgrove Road.

Hugh Bernard with 5-74 was the pick of the Folkestone bowling. A good steady all round bowling performance by the home side soon had their visitors struggling.

Will MacVicar and Junaid Nadir both collected three wickets as wickets fell at a steady rate. Himanshu Waingankar scored 51 but Folkestone wickets tumbled around him and the end came on the last ball of the 35th over when the final wicket fell leaving Folkestone 123 all out.

Tanweer Sikandar scored a fine 103 but the Blackheath total of 209 proved to be too few for their visitors Tunbridge Wells who emerged with a three wicket victory.

The reminder of the Blackheath batsmen could find little form as Christ Fenwick and Alex Williams both picked up three wickets. Blackheath looked well placed for a decent total at 108-2 when Nic Maddinson departed for 30.

Sikandar held fort at one end but wicket fell regularly at the other end. They would later rue handing they visitors an extra ten overs by being bowled out inside 45 overs.

The home side made Tunbridge Wells fight hard for the runs whose batting was fairly steady. Robert Sehmi made 45, Michael Waller 41 and Chris Williams 34 as they edged towards their target.

Warren Lee returned figures of 4-55 as the overs ticked by and it was thanks to a determined unbeaten 25 by Jamie Baldwin that Tunbridge Wells crept home off the penultimate ball of the 64th over.

Bromley had a disappointing day with the bat as they were invited to bat first on their travels to Manor Way, Bexley.

No batsman passed 30 as Bromley battled through their entire allocation of overs to end on 130-9 with Jasdev Bassan and Min Patel taking three wickets apiece.

Bexley found batting conditions easier after the break and with Sam Heazlet making an unbeaten 41, Bexley got home for the loss of four wickets in the 34th over.

Perhaps the most tense match of the day ended in an exciting winning draw for Lordswood as they visited Sandwich Town. The home side invited Lordswood to bat first and with Matt Greenwood posting 90, Chris Piesley 46 and Oliver Lea 41.

Lordswood were bowled out in the 53rd over for 225. When Robert Goatham departed for 32 with the score on 77-5 Lordswood looked set for victory.

However a valuable partnership developed between Rory Smith and Dan Evans moving the score along to 153 when Evans was dismissed for 41.

Smith batted through the rest of the innings to end on 59 not out but he and his fellows fell short of the chase by 5 runs with nine down after 56 overs.

RESULTS

Beckenham 304-8 beat Folkestone 123-10 by 181 runs

Bexley 131-4 beat Bromley 130-9 by 6 wickets

Blackheath 209-10 lost to Tunbridge Wells 210-7 by 3 wickets

Sandwich Town 221-9 losing draw against Lordswood 225-10

Sevenoaks Vine 131-10 lost to Hartley 135-2 by 8 wickets