There was no change in the upper echelons of the Kent League Premier Division as the top three all claimed maximum points.
After a week of inactivity Sandwich Town were back in action with a convincing win at Blackheath. Having won the toss Sandwich lost both openers early to Mahi Mahfuzul. However Tom Chapman cracked a quick 41 supported by Robert Goatham (33). Alex Smith whacked 68 not out off 57 balls and Rory Smith weighed in with 42 not out.
When Blackheath replied chasing 235, the Smiths opened the bowling and pegged back the hosts with Alex taking 3 for 30. Ravindra Karunaratne scored 53 and Mahfuzul hit 50 but Blackheath were bowled out for 179.
Second placed Bexley enjoyed a comfortable win at bottom club Bromley. Although the experiment of using Ryan Cartwright as an opening batsman was again unsuccessful, Shaun Evans (77) joined Calum Basey (69) to put on 153 for the second wicket. Bexley then went on the rampage with Matt Stiddard hitting 44 not out off 24 balls and George Haley belting four sixes in his eight ball knock of 28. Bexley finished on 278 for 5.
In response, despite Bexley being without Jas Singh pending his Kent debut, Bromley were hustled out for 123. Lewis Hickford top scored with 52. In his more familiar role as opening bowler, Cartwright took 5 for 24 and Adam Ball claimed 3 for 22.
Tunbridge Wells bounced back from their two consecutive defeats with victory in a shortened game at Lordswood. Having been invited to bat first, they scored an imposing 181 for 8 from their 28 overs. Will Stickler top scored with 71 and fellow opener Viraj Bhatia scored 36. Hugh Scott took 3-32 from his six overs.
Mark McLean took 4 for 30 after the opening bowlers had kept it tight. Joseph Mitchell top scored with 32 as Lordswood’s innings ended on 120 for 7.
Beckenham’s miserable run continued at Holmesdale where the hosts were inserted in a game curtailed to twenty overs a side. Dom May smashed six sixes in his 23 ball 53 not out to back up Luke Blackaby, 51 not out off 35 balls, Carlos Maynard, 49 from 23 and Will McDowell, 38 from 21 balls. The bowling figures did not make good reading with only Rob Clements, 2 for 26 off four overs going at less than 10.75 an over as Holmesdale finished on 227 for 3.
Neither of Beckenham’s opening batsmen troubled the scorers and although James Fear put up some resistance with 69 from 32 deliveries, wickets fell steadily and the visitors finished on 149 for 7. Thomas Masding took 3 for 20 from his four overs.
Bickley Park v Sevenoaks Vine was postponed and has been rearranged to be played on 11th September.
Picture supplied by Keith Gillard.