Week one of the Kent League Premier Division cricket season started with some interesting results and excellent personal performances.
Last season’s Champions, Blackheath, started their defence with a home match against Lordswood and lost the toss with the visitors batting. The Lords got off to a flying start putting on 114 for the first wicket before Bradley Goldsack was dismissed for 48. Two further wickets fell quickly before Callum McLeod joined opener Linden Lockhart. Lockhart eventually fell for 108 however, McLeod went on to amass 132 not out from 108 deliveries as the innings closed on an imposing 309 for 4.
Despite losing a couple of early wickets, Mason Robinson steadied the ship with 51. Matthew Golding then gave the Heath hope with a fierce 138 not out from 99 balls. However, it was not quite enough and they fell fourteen runs short on 295 for eight.
It had looked as though Minster would win the title last season but four defeats and a no result in their last five matches cost them dearly. They started their campaign with a home game against newly promoted Bromley and enjoyed a comfortable win. Openers Jason Van Dyk (87) and Noah McLennan (64) put them on their way after they had opted to bat first, then 48 from James Speer and Akhil Venugopalan’s 31 kept the pressure on. Aditya Kumar’s final over hat-trick, was part of his career best 4 for 11 as Minster finished on 265 for 9.
Soon in trouble at 17 for 3, Bromley never looked like troubling their hosts and were bowled out for 148. Ollie Streets scored 79, but nobody else had an answer to the Minster bowling unit with Speer returning 4 for 45.
Finishing in third place last season St. Lawrence and Highland Court travelled to Hayes, who ended in fourth spot. The visitors were asked to bat first and struggled against Will MacVicar who took the first three wickets on his way to 4 for 25. Oliver Curtiss (45) and Ben Mills (31), steadied the ship to an extent but Aaron Burnage returned 3 for 28 as St Lawrence were bowled out for 159.
That proved to be little challenge for Hayes who put on 111 for the first wicket before Burnage was dismissed for 70 at better than a run a ball. Finan Bryce finished on 59 not out as the hosts cruised to a nine wicket victory with over twenty-two overs to spare.
Also on the road were Tunbridge Wells who travelled to Sandwich Town in the most thrilling match of the week. The hosts won the toss and batted first. Rory Smith top scored with 73 after opener Ryan Davies had scored 34. Chris Williams claimed 3 for 30 as Sandwich finished on 196 for 9.
Drew Beazleigh 53, and Alex Williams with 48 kept Wells in touch in a partnership of 83, but Sandwich kept chipping away and still needed five to win with two balls remaining and their last pair in the middle. Crucially, Michael Waller was on strike and struck them both for four to win the match and complete his half century.
Finally, Bexley hosted the other promoted club Holmesdale, and belied the absence of six first team players by claiming the eighteen points in another tight finish. They won the toss and elected to bat first with Aiden Griggs leading the way with 74. He was supported by Ken McLure’s 43 before captain Matt Stiddard hit a run a ball 56, and Harry Turner a quick fire 34 not out. Bexley finished on 244 for 7.
Fraser McWhinnie then took three early wickets, plus a direct hit run out, and two more at the death to claim the first Kent League Premier ‘five for’ of the season, at a cost of 35 runs. Anthony Bissett’s brilliant 103 not out kept the visitors in touch, and they were in with a shout when Ollie Chaplin joined him. He scored 31 in a partnership of 65 before his team fell short by just seven runs, ending on 237 for 9.