Only two teams came into week four of the Kent League Premier Division cricket season undefeated and they met to send the victorious team clear at the top of the league.

Last season’s champions. Tunbridge Wells, put themselves in pole position when they crushed Bromley by 139 runs having been asked to bat first on their own wicket. Ben Dawkins was again a class above. Having scored 180 for Kent against Durham, he then hit 109 not out for Wells at Bexley last week before rattling up 102 against Bromley. Aristides Karvelas supported him with a valuable 42 before the hosts were bowled out for 229. Oliver Butterfill returned 4 for 29 and Marcus Lilley 4 for 32.

Karvelas wasn’t finished there though, and claimed an early wicket then returned to finish on 3 for 20. However, his figures was usurped by Matthew Lukisch who took 4 for 4 in four overs as the visitors were dismissed for 90.

Moving into second place, Blackheath enjoyed a straight forward home win against Sevenoaks Vine. The visitors elected to bat and found themselves at 52 for 8 before number ten bat Tom Richards scored 51 to support former Kent bowler George Garrett, who finished with 31. Arafat Bhuiyan, another former county bowler, took 3 for 19 while Jahid Ahmed claimed 3 for 32 and Niaz Khan 3 for 34.

Chasing 132 was never going to present a huge challenge and Mason Robinson’s 56 helped the hosts to a six wicket victory.

Also on one defeat are Hayes who recorded a resounding ten wicket win at Whitstable who were put in to bat first. Although Jaydn Denly scored a patient 31, the hosts were bowled out for 98. Will MacVicar took 3 for 31 and Alfie Peck 3 for 26.

Finnan Bryan’s 53 not out was accompanied by Will Harby’s unbeaten 44 as the visitors cruised home in under sixteen overs.

Hoping to avenge their defeat at home to Lordswood in the National Club competition, Bexley again came up short when visiting in the League. Having won the toss, the hosts looked in trouble at 16 for 3, and were still struggling at 51 for 4. However, Edward Taylor scored 84 and Hugh Scott 82 not out as the hosts finished on 277 for 8. Current Kent fast bowler, Jas Singh returned 3 for 45.

Although opener Varun Ahmed scored 30, Bexley crumbled until Oliver Smith scored 61 at number ten, supported by Jamie Batten’s 44. They were bowled out for 174 with Adeel Hussein claiming 5 for 34 and Scott 3 for 52.

Finally, 69 from Kent’s Oliver Curtiss helped hosts St. Lawrence and Highlands Court score 189 after they had been instructed to bat first by Minster. James Speer was pick of the bowlers with 4 for 34.

That proved to be too much as despite James Thompson’s 67 and Jack Benkenstein’s 41, the Sheppey team were bowled out for 177, twelve runs short, with almost nine overs unused. Darren Stevens rolled back the years with a brilliant 5 for 17, and Curtiss claimed 3 for 27.

Images courtesy of Keith Gillard