Week seven of the Kent League Premier Division cricket season started with Lordswood and Tunbridge Wells level on points at the top of the table, and both were on the road.
In recent weeks, with uncertain weather, the majority of the clubs winning the toss have chosen to put their opponents in. However, on a hot Saturday, with little or no rain expected, four of the five teams to win the toss elected to bat first.
Playing a second consecutive away match, Lordswood visited third placed Hayes and chose to set a target. Max Wood set the scene with an excellent 117, and he was supported by in-form captain Calum Macleod who scored 71 at a rate of greater than a run a ball. Although wickets fell late on, with Alfie Peck taking 3 for 39, they still finished on 293.
Despite that looking competitive, Rory Low had other ideas. Coming in at 36 for 3, he joined Will MacVicar and scored a match winning 129 not out. MacVicar fell for 61, one of Will Straker’s 4 for 42. He also dismissed Alex Blake for a quick-fire 33 but was unable to stop the hosts from winning by five wickets with more than two overs in hand.
Also on their travels, Tunbridge Wells were happy to win the toss at Bromley, who started the day in fourth. After a 71 run opening partnership, three wickets fell for four runs including Chris Williams, who struck 42 from just 30 deliveries. Ollie Morgan (69) then joined Marcus O’Riordan (30) to rebuild, and the innings closed on 239 for 9.
Stan Greenleaf anchored the hosts’ return with 62, however partners kept getting in but not going on and they were bowled out for 204. Williams followed up his batting exploits with 3 for 37 to help his team go five points clear at the top.
Bucking the trend, sixth placed St Lawrence and Highland Court chose to chase at fifth placed Minster. Although it appeared that it might have paid off early on, Akhil Venugopalan scored a magnificent149 and Aron Nijjar 55 before the innings closed on 290 for 9. Syan Bulathsinhala took 3 for 38, Shermon Lewis 3 for 49, and Sam Ireland 3 for 72.
An opening stand of 73 in 7.3 overs ended when Dan Stickels fell for 35, then Nijjar went to work. He returned 5 for 21, supported by Max Luckett with 3 for 16 as the visitors stumbled to 131 all out.
Last season’s champions, Blackheath had first bat at Bexley but struggled to find any momentum against a spin heavy attack. Mason Robinson scored 32 before becoming Louie James’ second victim on his way to 3 for 27. Siraj Sajid was last out having scored 39 late runs before falling in the final over to Aiden Griggs (4 for 17) as they closed on 151.
Angus McKenzie gave then hope when reducing Bexley to 3 for 2, then 51 for 3 but when he finished, having taken 3 for 28, captain Matt Stiddard scored 83 not out to lead his club to a comfortable six wicket victory with nineteen overs unused.
Finally, Sandwich Town batted first at home to bottom club Holmesdale. Former Kent, Somerset and Durham wicketkeeper Ryan Davies (43) put on 70 for the second wicket with Shahmeer Malik, who went on to score 59. At 189 for 5, the innings could have gone either way but Rory Smith scored 83, supported by Zach Fagg who cracked 49 not out from 29 balls, and they closed on 281 for 5. Ollie Chaplin was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 38.
When Holmesdale responded they found Roshan Jayatissa almost unplayable as he returned 4 for 8 from 7.3 overs. Jake Guinan was also impressive and he claimed 5 for 42 to bowl the hosts to victory. Nathan Khelawon scored 46, Jamie Baird 38, Leo Carter 37, and Dom May 32, but none hit the big score required and they were well sixty runs short on 221 all out.
Images courtesy of Keith Gillard