Catch up with all the latest from the Shepherd Neame Kent Cricket League from the weekend.
SHEPHERD NEAME KENT CRICKET LEAGUE PREMIER LEAGUE
WEEK 9 – 1 July 2017
Bexley 247-4 beat Hartley 246-7 by 6 wickets
Holmesdale 231 lost to Beckenham 251-4 by 20 runs
Lordswood 282-10 beat Tunbridge Wells 261-10 by 21 runs
Sandwich Town 188-9 lost to Tenterden 191-7 by 3 wickets
Sevenoaks Vine 225-8 beat Blackheath 203-10 by 22 runs
Beckenham remain twelve points clear at the top of the table but were made to work hard by bottom of the table winless Holmesdale. Visitors Beckenham were invited to bat on slightly damp wicket. Chris Isles got off to a flying start with 47 against some indifferent bowling. Upon his departure Holmesdale tightened their bowing and made Beckenham work hard for their runs. Alex Senn was run out for 45, Will MacVicar batted well for his 69 and with 31 by Alex Blake and 27 not out by Oliver Robinson, Beckenham reached 251-4 at the halfway stage. Holmesdale began steadily but at 40 David Roffey was run out by an excellent direct hit by Alex Blake for 21 when Michael Davidson joined skipper Mark Epps and the pair batted sensibly taking the total to 124 when Epps holed out for 52 and Luke Blackaby joined Davison. These two upped the tempo and got Holmesdale down to needing 100 from 17 overs and the winning post in sight when Adam Senn remove Davidson for a well-made 56. From that point forward Beckenham upped their game and were in the ascendency as the run rate climbed. Despite a good 35 by Blackaby and some big hitting down the order, wickets were tumbling, and with Junaid Nadir, the pick of the Beckenham bowling with 4-37, Holmesdale ended 20 short, all out for 231 in the final over. A very spirited performance against the League leaders.
Bexley kept the pressure on the leaders with an excellent victory at home against current Champions Hartley. At Manor Way, Bexley, Hartley won the toss and got off to a blazing start with both James Hockley and Richard Selvey-Clinton scoring at over six an over for the first 15 when Clinton departed for 39 and the total on 103. Bexley picked up two cheap wickets and then Hockley for 91 from 70 balls and at 158-4 Bexley tightened the grip with Dan Stickels, 44 and David Thomson 24 finding runs harder to come by, Adam Riley took 3-39. They were eventually to reach only 246-7, a little disappointing after such a fine start. Bexley found batting a little easier. Callum Basey and Christopher Laas set of well, Basey departing for 34, when the match winning partnership began and Aryan Jain joined Laas. They put on 126 for the second wicket before Jain was out for a run a ball 69 and the total on 187-2 with the backbone of the chase completed, Matt Cross made a run a ball 31 and finally Lass was out for 88 but only four runs were now required. Bexley won by six wickets with almost four overs remaining.
A fine 127 by Sean Dickson and 62 form Chris Piesley 62 helped steer Lordswood to a 21 victory over Tunbridge Wells in another good game, this time at Martin Grove. Electing bat, Lordswood reach 282 from their 50. Nichols Sale took 3-56 but went at eight an over. A valiant effort in the chase as Chris Williams made 50 and his brother and skipper Alex made a wonderful 128 but the task was just too great. Hugh Bernard and Jack Laraman took three apiece.
The Sandwich Town batting failed on the day against a steady Tenterden attack. Electing to bat at home Sandwich were in trouble at 66-5 and only Rory Simith at No.7 saved their blushes as he helped edge their score towards their final total of 188-9. The Tenterden bowling was all economic with the wickets shared about. Matt Hunn picked up two early wickets but then Jacobus du Plooy 53 and Adam Ball 60 pushed Tenterden forward. Ball was out with just eight needed and the visitors got home, seven down and seven balls in hand.
Sevenoaks Vine picked up a much needed win as they entertained Blackheath in Sevenoaks. The home side chose to bat and were swiftly in trouble losing both openers with only six runs on the board. Karl Pearson fought hard for his valuable 55. Zak Crawley added 35 but the impetus came at the end as Michael Barber notched up 77 from 61 balls to 225-8. Tanweer Sikander with 3-34 from his ten was in good form with the ball. Only George Wells with 76 and Richard Fleming 38 made significant contributions in the chase as Tom Coldman with outstanding figures of 4-19 helped make the chase beyond Blackheath’s reach as they fell 22 runs short.
Another weekend with some outstanding performances and results sets up a thrilling second half to the season at both top and bottom. Bexley are right on Beckenham’s tail. Will it be a two-horse race or will their form both slip way slip away and allow other back in the hunt? We have an exciting nine weeks ahead and only then will these questions be answered.