Although bad weather affected most of the games in week eleven of the Kent League Premier Division, it did not stop Tunbridge Wells from holding their advantage at the top of the table.

They travelled to Minster who began the day in third place and, unsurprisingly, asked the hosts to bat. After Kai Appleby’s 39, Minster stumbled from 52 for 0 to 74 for 5. Jaahid Ali then scored 77 and Haider Zaidi 45 before they were bowled out for 220. Matthew Luksich took 4 for 36 and Danru Ferns 3 for 32.

Marcus O’Riordan scored 63 in the response before Sam Smith, 58 not out, led the visitors home by four wickets with just under five overs to spare. 

Nearest Challengers Hayes hosted Holmesdale and played out a 20 over game. Having lost the toss they batted first and finished on 163 for 8. Will MacVicar top scored with 48 after Alex Blake, 37, and Finnan Bryan, 33, had sentt them on their way. 

That proved to be more than enough as Holmesdale were bowled out for 97, with former Kent first team all rounder Blake backing up his batting with 3 for 8.

One point separated the fifth and sixth placed teams with Sandwich Town at home to St Lawrence & Highland Court. The hosts were put in and were dismissed for 148 with Zack Fagg scoring 37. Shermon Lewis was again in the wickets returning 3 for 26. 

Chasing a revised score of 146 from 40 overs, the visitors stumbled to 83 all out. Alex Smith took 3 for 21, including Kent’s Jack Leaning, and Roshan Jayatissa helped himself to 3 for 28.

In another twenty over match, Blackheath lost the toss at home to Bromley and batted first. Opener Jahid Ahmed scored 35 in a total of 148 for 9. Aditya Kumar bowled a brilliant spell of 4 for 21 in his four overs.

That proved to be in vain despite Oliver Butterfill’s 42 not out and Ollie Street’s 33 as the visitors could only muster 130 for 6, falling eighteen runs short.

Sadly, Bexley versus Lordswood was abandoned without a ball being bowled and the two teams claimed nine points apiece. 

Pictures supplied by Keith Gillard.