At the halfway stage of the season in the Kent Cricket League, the Premier Division saw Tunbridge Wells holding on to the number one spot in a tight top half of the table.

They returned to winning ways when hosting St Lawrence & Highland Court who asked them to bat first. As has happened so often, the Williams’ took centre stage with Alex top scoring with 69 after Chris had scored 32 when opening.

With five others getting into the teens, they accumulated 212. Charley Nash was the main wicket taker with 3 for 31.

After Liam McGroarty had reduced the visitors to 32 for 3 on his way to 3 for 20 off ten overs, they never recovered. Although Sully Gould scored a defiant 33, they were bowled out for 167.

Having been table toppers two weeks previously, Lordswood fell to their second consecutive defeat when losing at home to bottom club Holmesdale. The hosts elected to bat first and started with a 64 run opening partnership between Owen Palmer and Max Wood. Palmer eventually fell for 38, and Wood for 39.

Bradley Goldsack then took over, scoring 73 not out from 62 deliveries, with no other batter coming close to that strike rate. Ollie Chaplin took 3 for 30 as the innings closed on 228 for 7.

Opener Sanghajit Wilmott set Holmesdale on their way to a victory that gives them hope of avoiding immediate relegation after last season’s promotion. He scored 53 before becoming Joe Gordon’s third victim on his way to 3 for 57.

However, Rupert Harbig’s run a ball 54 not out saw the visitors home by 4 wickets with over six overs to spare.

That left the door open for Bexley to move up to second place, which they achieved in a low scoring match at Sandwich Town. After being put in to bat, they looked in serious trouble at 98 for 7.

Ahmed Jamal led the recovery scoring 36 and Jas Singh scored 41, his Kent League career best. That enabled the visitors to reach 173 despite Rory Smith claiming 3 for 20 and James Bazley 3 for 31.

Jamal and Singh weren’t finished there. The former took an impressive 3 for 14 from eight overs, and the latter 3 for 33. Harry Dowling also weighed in with 3 for 24 as the hosts were dismissed for 105 despite Ryan Davies scoring 33.

Last season’s top two met when Hayes hosted Minster with the hosts choosing to field first. They may have been wondering about that decision when Ed Moore was going well. He scored 129 at just over a run a ball.

However, he struggled to find support with only 30 from David Masters making a significant impact. Stuart Eddicott took 3 for 58 as the visitors finished on 228.

Gareth Severin was in explosive form for the hosts and he rattled up 146 not out off 122 balls including 3 sixes and 22 fours. Hayes reached their target by seven wickets with 6.3 overs to spare.

In the other match, Sevenoaks Vine hosted Blackheath with both teams in the wrong half of the table. The hosts were inserted to bat and Luke Schlemmer, last season’s league highest run scorer, struck 97.

That was his best score of this season’s campaign so far. Chris Vernon added a hard hitting 65 as the Vine finished on 238 for 7.

Although opener George Wells scored 64 in the response, tight bowling ensured that nobody else got going until Jas Bassan scored 51 not out, batting at nine. That was too little too late as they were knocked over for 187.

Bowling honours were shared with four bowlers each taking two wickets.

Just 27 points separate the top six, and there is equal intrigue in the relegation tussle so the second half of the term promises much excitement.

Picture supplied by Keith Gillard.