After rain had decimated the penultimate week of the Kent League Premier Division, St Lawrence & Highland Court held their nerves to claim the title on the last day of the season.

They were asked to bat first by visitors Blackheath and looked to be in serious trouble at 71 for 6. However, Darren Stevens struck 53 off 50 balls while John Grewar finished on 46 not out to lead them to 205 for 8. Jahid Ahmed took 3 for 33 and Eesa Faheem 3 for 52.

At 75 for 5, the Heath were in similar difficulties and despite Ross Whyte’s 53 and 31 from Tejpal Birdi, they were bowled out 19 runs short of their target. Grewar backed up his batting exploits with 3 for 25, as the Shrimpers celebrations commenced.

Knowing that all that they could do was to win and hope that St. Lawrence slipped up, Hayes visited Minster and were also instructed to set a target. They soon found themselves at 6 for 3. However captain Alex Blake hit 70 and Aaron Burrage 46 to repair the early damage as the away team closed on 201.

Although Shivam Chauhan struck 55 not out in the reply, the hosts were bowled out for 153 with Burrage claiming 5 for 25. That left Hayes as runners up while Minster had to hope that Whitstable lost at Bexley and earned fewer than two bonus points.

Having won the toss, the visitors chose to field and bowled Bexley out for 152. Matt Stiddard top scored with 40 while Cameron Wilshaw took 3 for 19 and Justin MacVicar 3 for 29.

Byron Gould scored 62 and Harry Fulton 35 before both were dismissed by Adam Riley on his way to 4 for 28. The damage had been all but done by that point, though, and Whitstable claimed safety by winning by two wickets with over twelve overs to spare.

There was no surprise result when third placed Tunbridge Wells hosted bottom team Lordswood. Losing the toss and batting first didn’t deter the home team’s Ben Dawkins and he scored 68 while Ollie Morgan hit 36 and Danru Ferns 32 in a total of 197. Lewis Dale returned 5 for 28.

Matthew Lukisch then took 3 for 12 from his ten overs, Ferns 3 for 22, and Matthew Barker 3 for 36 as the Lords were bowled out for just 95.

In the remaining match Bromley were instructed to bat first when they hosted Sevenoaks Vine and they rattled up the highest score of the day with 255 for 8. Sean Thompson top scored with 61, Ollie Streets hit 52 not out, Alfie Veysey 46, and Ryan Cartwright 40. Tom Richards was the most successful bowler with 3 for 29.

Will House was the Vine’s top scorer with 58, Chris Vernon struck 56, Harry Bevan-Thomas 42, and Luke Schlemmer 40, but all to no avail as they finished on 244 for 9, eleven runs short of their target. Marcus Lilley was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 30.

Image courtesy of St Lawrence & Highland Court Cricket Club