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

SHEPHERD NEAME KENT CRICKET LEAGUE PREMIER LEAGUE

 

WEEK 3 – 20 May 2017

 

Beckenham 179-6 beat Tunbridge Wells 125-10 by 58 runs D/L/S revised target 183.

Bexley 108-7 beat Lordswood 104-10 by 3 wickets

Blackheath 189-10 beat Holmesdale 122-10 by 67 runs

Hartley 125-10 lost to Tenterden 152-9 by27 runs (30 over match)

Sevenoaks Vine 80-10 lost to Sandwich Town 133-10 by 53 runs 30 over match)

 

The miserable weather during the week and local showers on Saturday saw two matches shortened to 30 overs a side and a little piece of history made as Duckworth Lewis Stern came into play for the very first time in the Kent Cricket League, albeit in a very minor way.

 

This occurred at Foxgrove Road, Beckenham where the visitors were Tunbridge Wells. The home side was invited to bat and the damp conditions made runs hard to come by against a steady attack. Kent youngster Oliver Robinson shepherded almost the entire innings with an excellent 89 perhaps unselfishly sacrificing his ton in the pursuit of quick runs towards the end on the innings. The bulk of the Beckenham innings was provided by a partnership of 107 between Robinson and a patient 47 by William MacVicar. After ten overs of the Beckenham innings at 30 without loss, a sharp shower took the players off the field for half an hour and thus the loss of five overs per side, and the need for Peter Wiseman and Mark Williams to fire up their laptop at tea time when the Beckenham innings closed at 179-6. The magic calculator soon advised those gathered that Tunbridge Wells would require 183 for victory on the assumption of no further interruptions, which thankfully never came! At 55-2 and well up with the run rate Alexander Williams (26) and Nicholas Sale (22) looking good, Tunbridge Wells looked on target but the loss of two quick wickets and a fine spell of 5-28 from Junaid Nadir saw the visitors slide to 125 all out producing a D/L/S victory by 58 runs for Beckenham.

 

League Champions Hartley suffered a rare home defeat at the hands of their visitors Tenterden by 27 runs in a match reduced to 30 overs a side. Tyler Griffin top scored with 31 and with 30 by Alistair Neale Tenterden managed 152-9 from their 30 having been put into bat. Dan Redwood with 3-34 was the leading wicket taker. An exceptional spell of 4-11 by Tom Richards from his permitted six over spell left Hartley reeling at 23-5 and despite a spirited fightback, Jake Benfield scoring 46 Alistair Neale with 3-24 chipped away leaving Hartley all out for 125 with four overs remaining.

 

Bexley suffered a major collapse on their way to a low scoring victory as they beat Lordswood by three wickets at Manor Way. Jasdev Bassan took 4-20 as Lordswood struggled to a meagre total of just 104 all out. Bexley were cruising comfortably at 70 Christopher Laas 33 and Callum Basey 31 without loss when they managed to lose seven wickets for 20 runs but skipper Jason Benn saw them home.

 

Sevenoaks Vine also suffered a dreadful collapse as they entertained Sandwich Town in a match that was to be reduced to 30 overs a side. Miles Richardson tore to Sandwich top order to pieces taking 3-17 and at 68-6 the East Kent side looked in peril but a very useful 47 by Alex Smith saved the day and helped Sandwich to a still seemingly below par 133. However, this ended proving 53 too many for the Vine as the ever-green Craig Spanton routed their top order taking 3-20 and with three of his fellows taking two apiece the home side were routed for just 80.

 

A valuable 51 by Tanweer Sikander and 36 by Richard Fleming helped Blackheath battle their way to 189 all out as they hosted Holmesdale at the Rectory Field. Jack Hulston Dom May and Anthony Bissett all took three wickets apiece. Whilst six of the away side reached double figures, none passed twenty and the Blackheath total proved too much for them. Dipyan Paul hade he impressive figures of 6.4 overs 3-8 as they were bowled out for 122.

 

This leaves Holmesdale and Sevenoaks Vine as the only sides without a win to date. This will change for one of them this coming Saturday as the two clash at Montreal Park. Likewise, Sandwich and Bexley are the only two sides to win all three. This too will end on Saturday as Bexley travel to Sandwich.