Catch up with all the latest from the Shepherd Neame Kent Cricket League from the weekend.

SHEPHERD NEAME KENT CRICKET LEAGUE

 

PREMIER LEAGUE

 

WEEK 2 – 13 May 2017

 

Blackheath 190-10 beat v Beckenham 128-10 by 62 runs

Holmesdale 193-10 lost to Hartley 194-5 by 5 wickets

Lordswood 189-10 lost to Sandwich Town 268-8 by 79 runs

Tenterden 274 lost to Bexley 286-5 by 12 runs

Tunbridge Wells 125-3 beat Sevenoaks Vine 124-10 by 7 wickets

 

New comers Holmesdale had tough opponents with a visit to Montreal Park by League Champions Hartley. Their cause was not assisted by losing the toss and being invited to bat first by their visitors on a wicket which offered a tinge of green. Holmesdale began brightly though in the power play and had reached 66 without loss from 12 before Will McDowell departed for 31. Holmesdale fought on against the usual disciplined Hartley attack. Rupert Harbig top scored with 38 but 3-40 from Jake Benfield and two apiece form James Thomson and James Hockley restricted Holmesdale who were bowled out for 193 in the 45th over. Holmesdale may have felt optimistic reducing Hartley to 20-3 with the dangerous centurions from last week Hockley and Stickels back in the hutch, but Richard Selvey-Clinton with 49 steadied the ship along with a fine unbeaten 96 from James Thompson saw Hartley safely home in the 37th over to win by 5 wickets.

 

It was not a happy day for Sevenoaks with Holmesdale’s neighbours Sevenoaks Vine soundly beaten by Tunbridge Wells at the Nevill. The Vine, electing to bat, found few answers against the Wells opening attack Patrick Sadler taking 3-26 and David Smith 2-31. Only John Bowden with 20 reached double figures in the top six. The Vine were reeling at 73-6 and it was only a run a ball 30 from Olli Howick that saved them from being bowled out for less than 100. Their final total however of 124 proved well short of a challenge for Tunbridge Wells and an unbeaten 53 from skipper Alex Williams saw them safely home with seven wickets in hand.

 

Blackheath put last week’s opening disappointment behind them as they secured a resounding 62 over Beckenham at the Rectory Field. The home side elected to bat on a slowish wicket. Tanweer Sikander top scored with 44 and a solid 36 by Richard Fleming, 28 from Waren Lee and 20 from Jaheed Ahmed steered Blackheath to a hard fought 190. Newly arrived overseas bowler Tabish Khan was the pick of the Beckenham bowling with 4-35, well supported by 3-50 from Junaid Nadir. A combination of steady bowling and indifferent batting was the undoing of Beckenham. Jahid Ahmed produced the best figures of 3-25 but he was well supported by his fellows who were disciplined and economic. Only Chis Isles with 33 and Jason Billimoria 30 gave Beckenham any hope as they were bowled out for just 128 in the 40th over, well and truly short of their target.

 

An exceptional 124 by Jacobus Du Plooy narrowly failed to pull off a tremendous run chase by Tenterden as they entertained Bexley at Morghew Park. A fine unbeaten 98 by Aryan Jain well supported by 61 from Callum Basey and 40 by Matt Cross helped Bexley to a decent total of 286-5 in their 50 having been invited to bat by the home side. A steady start by the home side saw them to 42 when Chris Vernon was the first to fall for 32 and Du Ploy entered stage. He watched a procession of wickets at the other end as he went about his business. Tenterden built a series of short term partnerships with Du Plooy who hit five 4’s and six 6’s in his innings. Suddenly though the game was tense as skipper Jason Benn took the ball for the final over. With three balls remining 13 runs were needed. It was just too many as Du Ploy was last to fall on the fourth ball for his fine 124.

 

Newly promoted Sandwich made it two wins from two as they defeated Lordswood away at Martin Grove by 79 runs. The East coast club were asked to bat first. Alex Smith, 86, was top scorer for Sandwich assisted by useful contributions of 61 by Rory Smith and 30 from Tom Chapman they accumulated 268-8 from their allocation. Amjad Khan headed the Lordswood attack with 3-48. In reply the Lordswood batting never fired. Grant Stewart bowled well for his 4-43 but only the Piesley’s, Chris and Shaun with 32 and 34 respectively, reached the thirty mark as Lordswood were finally dismissed for 189.