Shepherd Neame Kent Cricket League – week 7 review

Hartley top the Division by four points over Beckenham as the two sides both won narrowly escaping the band of heavy rain which caused widespread disruption across the County.

Hartley invited Tunbridge Wells to bat first at the Nevill and the home side were soon in trouble.

At 56-6 the game looked lost but a valuable 54 from David Smith and 45 by James Madgwick added some respectability but still Tunbridge Wells were bowled out for 184 in the 52nd over.

Dan Redwood took 3-34 with the rest of the wickets shared about. James Hockley, 61 and Dan Stickels 31 broke the back of the chase and James Thompson scored a breezy unbeaten 50 as Hartley somewhat romped home for the loss of just three wickets in 33.2 overs.

At Manor Way, Bexley asked their visitors Beckenham to have a bat and may have felt happy with their decision when they had Beckenham at 52-3.

Raza Ali Dar's 74 alongsideAlex Blake who hit nine fours and three sixes in an innings of105 off 104 balls was the difference between the sides.

The pair not only repaired the damage but blossomed to add a magnificent stand of 184 for the fourth wicket. Beckenham closed 281-7.

In reply, despite 86 from Sam Heazlett, George Wells 48 and Min Patel 47, Bexley wickets fell at regular intervals with spin doing much of the damage, Johan Malcolm 3-12 and Ali Dar 2-10 and between showers the home side were bowled out at the end of the 48th over for 224 and thus a 57 run victory for Beckenham to take them to second place.

The only other game to conclude and beat the weather was at Cheriton Road where Lordswood picked up their first and much need victory of the season against Folkestone.

Electing to bat first, Lordswood piled on the runs led by Palash Joshi with 83 and Fabian Cowdrey 81 as the reached an impressive 310-8 from their 55 overs Jan Gray was the outstanding Folkestone bowler with 4-61.

Folkestone began steadily with Himanshu Waingankar scoring 44 and Alex Hogben 35, but once Chris Piesley removed Waingankar the remaining wickets began to tumble as Piesley rattled through the middle order ending with fine figures of 7-31 as Folkestone were bowled out for 168 clinching a comfortable 142 run win for Lordswood.

The remaining two games were both hit by the weather and ended incomplete with both in the balance. Blackheath were bowled out for 212 by Sevenoaks Vine, James Kirkham the main contributor with an unbeaten 67.

Karl Person and Tom Coldman both bagged three wickets each. In reply Tanweer Sikander took 4-52 as the Sevenoaks side slumped to 140-8 when James Day joined Karl Pearson with the pair lifting the score to 183-8 when the rain came with three overs remaining.

Bromley meanwhile notched up 234-5 at Plaistow Lane against Sandwich Town, thanks mainly to an innings of 94 by Richard Selvey-Clinton. 14 overs remained here when the heavens opened with Sandwich on 144-4 needing another 91 runs to win.

Alex Smith was 51 not out and a close match looked possible when play was ended.

WEEK 7 RESULTS

Bexley 224-10 lost Beckenham 281-7 by 57 runs

Blackheath 212-10 v Sevenoaks Vine 183-8, match incomplete

Bromley 234-5 v Sandwich Town 144-4, match incomplete

Folkestone 168-10 lost to Lordswood 310-8 by 142 runs

Tunbridge Wells 184-10 lost to Hartley 187-3 by 7 wickets