As I was attending Welling United’s season opener next door, I decided to combine my enjoyment of cricket and football by arriving earlier to watch the start of the cricket match between Bexleyheath and The Mote ‘next door’.

They compete in the Kent Cricket League First Division, two leagues below the Premier Division. Bexleyheath were formed in 1870 and are one of a number of clubs in the borough that have a thriving youth section that provides a pathway to their five adult teams. They are a community club that also hosts Walking Cricket for veteran cricketers or those who want a fun way to keep fit.

Kent supporters will know The Mote as their ground in Maidstone has been an out-ground hosting Kent First Eleven fixtures. They were one of the twelve founder members of the Kent League in 1970. They were formed in 1857 and have adult men, women and colt teams. 

In the match between the two teams on Saturday, the Heath inflicted a heavy defeat on their visitors. Having won the toss, the hosts batted first and got off to a rapid start. They reached fifty in just the sixth over and were on 73 when losing their first wicket, Malinda Thotiwiage being dismissed for 28. Artharva Kolvankar was out for 17 and that brought in Indian overseas player Kunal Kothavade to join captain George Monk. Their partnership was worth 109 before Monk fell seventeen runs short of his century.

Charlie Monk added 29 before he was out but Kothavade completed his century and was finally dismissed for 116. Bexleyheath finished on 335 for 9 from their fifty overs. Tobin Thomas took 3 for 62 while Ronak Patel was the only bowler to bowl his full ten overs at under five an over. He returned 1 for 48.

Ducks for the first three in The Mote’s batting order put them in a situation from which they never recovered. Chris Back (40) and Michael Ruffell (18) were the only batters to make double figures. By the time that I got back into the ground to watch the conclusion, they were on 63 for 7. Five overs later it was all over as they were bowled out for 77. Charlie Monk took 4 for 18 from his ten overs, Sam Montgomery returned 3 for 41, Thotiwiage 2 for 1, and Kothavade 1 for 17.