Coming into the final week of the Kent League Premier Division, Hayes had already been crowned champions, but there was still a relegation issue to be decided.
Bickley Park went into the game knowing that they had to defeat Sevenoaks Vine and hope that Sandwich Town lost, while claiming fewer than five bonus points. In Bickley’s favour was the fact that Sandwich were visiting the champions.
Jason Benn played his part for Bickley as their guests stumbled to 45 for 4. Michael Cowdrey mounted a recovery, scoring 59, but Sevenoaks were held to 186 for 9, boosted by 33 extras. Benn finished with 3 for 15 from his ten overs.
Elliott Hooper hit 54 from 37 deliveries in an opening stand of 75. Once he was out, the other opening batsman, Charlie Smith, held the innings together scoring 62 not out and despite James Logan returning 3 for 35, Bickley cruised home by four wickets.
At Hayes, the hosts racked up 318 for 5. James Bamber scored 126, Will MacVicar 102 and Gareth Severin 59. Jan Gray ended with 3 for 67 for Sandwich, and the two bowling points that they claimed meant that they needed to score 200 to claim three additional batting points.
Zach Fagg scored a quick 39 but with wickets falling regularly, they needed someone to hold their nerve and that was Jake Smith who scored 47. When he was dismissed, twelve runs were still required with two wickets remaining. Gray and Harry Bee saw them to their target before they finished on 207 all out. Connor Byrne claimed season best figures of 4 for 46 and MacVicar took 3 for 68
Although, unable to catch Hayes, Minster wanted to finish on a high and did so in style against relegated Beckenham. James Thompson scored a season’s best 157 not out supported by Ed Moore 81 to claim second place in the league’s runs scored behind Luke Schlemmer. Essex all-rounder Aron Nijjar scored 45, and Kai Appleby 31 as the hosts finished on an imposing 353 for 4 from their 50 overs.
A second wicket stand of 132 between Gethin Roberts (79) and James Fear (74) gave Beckenham hope, but they couldn’t build on it and were bowled out for 250. Appleby was the most successful bowler with 3 for 19.
Third placed Bexley’s unbeaten league run was extended to eight games as they warmed up for their Lords visit strongly at Tunbridge Wells. A 149 opening stand between Shaun Evans (78) and Aiden Griggs (62) was backed up by George Haley with 34. However, Matthew Barker’s 5 for 43 stopped Bexley from running away with it and they finished on 237 for 7.
Despite Viraj Bhatia scoring 65, the hosts didn’t look like threatening the Bexley score as wickets fell regularly. Kent fast bowler Jas Singh took 3 for 47, and former Kent spinner, Adam Riley, 3 for 46 as the hosts were bowled out for 203.
In the other game, Blackheath sealed fourth place with a victory at Lordswood. Edward Taylor scored 90 for the hosts but nobody else reached thirty as they finished on 223 for 9. Arafat Bhuiyan claimed 3 for 32 to end joint leading wicket taker in the league with 38 victims.
Tanweer Sikander scored 83 not out, Tejpal Birdi 59, and Ross Richardson 46 not out as the Heath cruised to victory by eight wickets with over seven overs remaining.
Picture supplied by Keith Gillard.