Miserable weather greeted the start of the Kent League cricket season, however Sandwich Town and Holmesdale were involved in a thriller.
In the Premier Division, players from all teams other than Sandwich Town and Holmesdale were able to watch the coronation of King Charles III in clubhouses as they waited to discover whether they would be able to play any cricket. Sadly, they were not.
Matches between Bexley and St. Lawrence & Highland Court, Blackheath and Minster, Hayes and Sevenoaks Vine, and Tunbridge Wells and Lordswood were abandoned with each club claiming nine points.
However, the one game that was played was a thriller. Sandwich entertained newly promoted Holmesdale and the hosts were invited to bat first. Zack Fagg anchored the innings and when he was joined by James Bazley, the looked on for a monster score.
That changed when Bazley was bowled by Rupert Harbig for 58 from forty deliveries and Fagg was dismissed by Dom May going for a big shot ten runs later having scored 71.
At 173 for 4, Sandwich had to rebuild. Kent’s Grant Stewart went cheaply but Tom Burnap scored an important 31. James Poulsom took three lower order wickets to finish on 3 for 36 as the hosts were bowled out for 271 with just under three overs unused.
When the visitors were reduced to 31 for 2, they were in a spot of bother but a partnership of 155 between William Harby and Leo Carter put them in a strong position until the former was run out for 72. Although Carter struggled to find someone to stay with him, he kept Holmesdale in touch up to the final over when they needed twelve to win.
After failing to score off the first two balls, Carter launched the third ball over long-off for six.
There was then a long wait for an unsuccessful search for the ball. He scored two off the next ball, but was unable to get a bat on the fifth delivery meaning that a four was needed off the final one.
Harry Bee pitched it well up and Carter could only score two. Sandwich claimed a one run victory and maximum points, despite Carter finishing on 134 not out.
Picture supplied by Keith Gillard.