Adam Ball took centre stage for hosts Bexley with a superb all round performance as they took maximum points against Bickley Park (3 points) in the Kent Cricket League Premier Division.
Having won the toss, Bexley captain Adam Riley elected to bat first. Although Aiden Griggs perished to an excellent caught and bowled by Max Luckett, Callum Basey and Shaun Evans kept the scoreboard ticking over until Bickley took pace off the ball.
James Monaghan was very unlucky to bowl ten tight overs straight through without taking a wicket and Bexley had reached 108 off nearly 35 overs before they lost their second wicket.
Evans perished to the excellent Matthew Patrick for 33, then the same bowler removed Basey for 66 in his next over.
With overs running out, Ball took control and despite wickets falling regularly at the other end. He ended up with an outstanding 48 not out off 42 deliveries as Bexley finished their 50 overs on 199 for 7. Incredibly, Bexley only recorded seven boundaries in their fifty overs.
Ryan Cartwright and Jas Singh bowled the first fourteen overs with the former removing Alex Darroch and the latter conceding just twelve runs from his seven overs.
Ball then came on and sent Safwaan Imitiaz and Patrick back to the hutch. Riley ended Alex Fullarton’s vigil and Elliott Hooper fell to Ball leaving Bickley in strife at 39 for 5 almost half way through their innings.
Daniel Magin hit the only six of the match before being one of Freddie Foster’s two victims and Alex Moen’s three lusty blows took the visitors past the hundred mark.
However, Ball had the final say, first with an outstanding piece of fielding to run out Monaghan without facing and then to bowl Luckett who was attempting an ambitious ramp shot. Ball finished with the impressive figures of 4 for 10 from his 7.1 overs.
Sandwich Town and Tunbridge Wells also recorded victories so Bexley remain in third place whilst Bromley also lost leaving Bickley Park one place off the bottom but still in the relegation zone.
Bexley CC 199 for 7 (50 overs) v Bickley Park 115 all out (44.1 overs)
Bexley won by 84 runs
Pictures supplied by Keith Gillard.