The two teams promoted into the Kent League Premier Division for the start of this season again won comfortably to maintain their top two placings.
All five games were won by the hosts after the visitors had batted first. Four of those were after the travelling team had won the toss and chosen to bat with only Minster, from the hosts, electing to put their opposition, Bexley, in to bat.
League leaders Hayes had a comfortable nine wicket win against Beckenham. The away team made a solid start with captain Alexander Senn (41) and James Fear (31) taking them to 103 for 1 but both fell close together. They lost wickets regularly, and were unable to build momentum, finishing on 171 for 9. Andrew Eddicott claiming 3 for 31.
James Bamber scored 64 not out, Gareth Severin notched 52, and Will McVicar finished on 45 not out as Hayes won with fifteen overs to spare.
Second placed Minster also enjoyed a fairly straight-forward victory. George Haley scored 68 at nearly a run a ball but no other Bexley batsman made it to 30. Joseph Parry took 3 for 44.
James Thompson scored an exciting 72 not out, including five sixes, and Edward Moore notched 61 as the hosts took just 23 overs to reach their target, winning by seven wickets.
Bickley Park won the most exciting game of the day, beating Blackheath by one wicket with one ball to spare. Brendon Louw scored 68, Tanweer Sikander 38, and Mahi Mahfuzul 31 as Blackheath finished on 196. Elliott Hooper and Krishna Padmanabhan each returned 3 for 36.
Hooper, who played T20 cricket for Kent last season, was also in good form with the bat. His 59 and Alex Moen’s 37 paved the way for Bickley, but they still needed twelve off nine balls when the last two came together.
However, Will Holcombe eased their nerves with a boundary in the final over and Xavier Darroch scored the winning run.
Defeat for Blackheath left the door open for Tunbridge Wells to reclaim third place by defeating Sevenoaks Vine by four wickets. Evert Bekker (56), Luke Schlemmer (37) and Christopher Vernon (35) helped the visitors to a respectable 215 for 8. Alex Williams was the most successful bowler in terms of wickets, taking 3 for 39.
He then scored 45 to support brother Chris who led the way with 83 as the hosts reached their target with over five overs to spare.
Sandwich Town were indebted to David Grant, down the order, who hit 43 as they were dismissed for 188 by Lordswood. Jack Laraman returned 3 for 13 off his ten miserly overs.
Despite losing two early wickets, the hosts cruised home. Edward Taylor top scored with 58 in a ninety run partnership with Linden Lockhart before the latter was joined by Calum McLeod. Their unbroken partnership of 78 saw them through with six overs and two balls to spare. Lockhart finished on 56 not out, and McLeod was undefeated on 47.
Next weekend reaches the half way stage and there are sure to be many more twists and turns over the next ten weeks.
Pictures supplied by Keith Gillard.