Week eight saw another change at the top of the Kent Cricket League Premier Division with Tunbridge Wells reclaiming top spot despite losing.

They were involved in a thriller at Manor Way where 599 runs were scored. Starting the day in second place they elected to bat at third placed Bexley and raced to 100 for 3 in the first fifteen overs.

Chris Williams then anchored the innings with a brilliant 104 before Sam Smith took control with an equally good knock of 109. They ended on an imposing 298 for 7.

Having been reduced to 31 for 2, Aiden Griggs and Hugo Burdon put on 120 before Griggs holed out for 75. Burdon then put on 50 with Matt Stiddard before falling for 90. Stiddard remained calm as wickets fell at the other end and Bexley claimed the eighteen points, winning by one wicket with seven balls remaining.

Previous league leaders Lordswood visited Minster, won the toss and batted first. They were going well at 44 for 0 before a Dan Masters hat-trick decimated their top order.

Callum MacLeod joined Linden Lockhart in a 52 run partnership before the latter was dismissed for 43. MacLeod then played a loan hand scoring 85 before being last out with the score on 194. Masters ended with 3 for 34.

Ed Moore rattled off 100 not out, and Surrey one day specialist Laurie Evans whacked 54 not out as Minster hurried to victory by eight wickets in 23.4 overs.

Fourth placed St Lawrence & Highfield Court were invited to bat first by their guests, reigning champions Hayes.

Matt Hammond scored 34 at a rapid rate before Darren Stevens scored his third century in four knocks this season, romping to 129 not out as his team finished on 273 for 9. Stuart Eddicott returned 3 for 59.

Gareth Severin (72) and Finlay Baker (54) gave Hayes hope with a solid opening partnership but despite Liam Buttery’s 42 not out and Alex Blake’s 35, they fell short on 254 for 8. Jack Heuston was the most successful bowler, taking 3 for 58.

Five points separated Sandwich Town and Blackheath before they made the long journey north to South-East London. They started the match in the field after losing the toss. George Wells scored 30 for the Heath before becoming the first of Jan Gray’s seven victims.

Ross Richardson scored 86, supported by Tanweer Sikandar’s 54, but Gray removed them both. His seven wickets cost just 39 as the hosts were bowled out for 217.

Although they made an early breakthrough, that didn’t look enough once Ben Chapman was joined by Rory Smith. Chapman was eventually out for 113 after a partnership of 182 left them needing just twelve runs.

Smith ended on 77 not out as his team won by seven wickets with over ten overs in hand.

In the remaining game, Holmesdale hosted Sevenoaks Vine with both teams needing points to break out of the bottom two. The visitors chose to bat first and opener Harry Bevan-Thomas scored 94.

Also in the runs were Kent’s James Logan (55) and Evert Bekker as they finished on 251 for 8. Dom May returned excellent figures of 5 for 40.

Ollie Chaplin scored 30 in the response but Andrew Reid-Dick (4 for 30) and Luke Schlemmer (3 for 6) had too much guile and the basement club were rolled over for 114.

Pictures supplied by Keith Gillard.