Catch up with all the action as Kent’s sides faced their thirteenth weekend in the Shepherd Neame Kent Cricket League.

 

SHEPHERD NEAME KENT CRICKET LEAGUE

 

PREMIER LEAGUE

 

WEEK 13 – 1 AUGUST 2015

 

Beckenham 226-5 beat Lordswood 205-9 by 21 runs

Bexley 141-10 lost to Hartley 225-5 by 84 runs

Blackheath 182-2 beat Folkestone 180-10 by 8 wickets

Bromley 249-4 lost to Tunbridge Wells 278-6 by 29 runs

Sevenoaks Vine 230-5 beat Sandwich Town 226-8 by 5 wickets

 

The status quo at the top is maintained with all the top four maintaining their winning ways. Thus Hartley are top with a sixteen point lead over Beckenham with Blackheath and Sevenoaks Vine a further fourteen points back level on. Hartley still have to travel to Beckenham in what may become the title decider in two week time. Sevenoaks Vine must beat Hartley at Culvey Close next Saturday to maintain a chance of retaining their title. Such an outcome would add great significance to the bathe at Foxgrove Road the following week. The final five week look set to be enthralling.

 

Hartley made light work of continuing Bexley’s indifferent run of form by defeating them by 84 runs at Manor Way. Hartley elected to bat and opener Nick Hendrie carried his bat and anchored their innings throughout with an unbeaten 87 and lively innings of 39 by James Hockley and then 79 by James Thompson saw Hartley through to 225-5 after their allotment of 50 overs. As ever the Hartley bowling was accurate ate and miserly and Bexley found the chase well beyond them. George Wells with 43 was the only significant contribution and with James Thompson and James Hockley both taking 3-20 Bexley were all back in the hutch with just 141 on the board.

 

There was an outstanding game of cricket at Foxgrove Road where Beckenham entertained Lordswood. It was a showpiece of cricket with a high standard played in a highly competitive but great spirited game. Beckenham elected to bat and had to face a ferocious opening spell from Amjad Khan and Daljeet Singh. They weathered the storm and gradually accelerated their innings after a very slow start. Alex Senn made a useful 58 and Will Mac Vicar went on to a very well-crafted 100 and Beckenham closed on 226-5. Lordswood chase was just slightly mistimed. Sean Dickson made a patient 88 but the run ate had climbed to close to seven an over when he departed. Will MacVicar added to his century with a fine bowling performance to take 4-22. Amjad Khan scored a rapid 37 but his departure ended any Lordswood hopes and they finished 22 runs short of their target.

 

Sandwich found some much needed form with the bat at Sevenoaks Vine but their efforts were in vain as the home side triumphed by 5 wickets. The visitors elected to bat and led by a useful 62 by Robert Goatham and 42 from Tom Chapman posted a reasonable total of 226-8 but this was to prove well under par as John Bowden found his best form. He carried his bat for a fine 125 from 124 balls and with Zak Crawley 37 and Miles Richardson 33, the Vine romped home in the 45th over with only five down.

 

In a game dominated by the batsmen Tunbridge Wells emerged victors at Plaistow Lane Bromley. On a sunny afternoon it was a little surprising to see Bromley to invite their visitors to bat first, a decision which was to prove costly. Marcus O’Riordan made an invaluable unbeaten 107, Alex Williams chipped in with 30 and with four others in the top six scoring in their twenties, Tunbridge Wells set a formidable target of 278-6 for Bromley to chase. Their final total of 249-4 in a win lose match was somewhat surprising. Bromley reached 111-4 when Freddie Wilson joined Shavawn Cunningham in the middle and both were to remain undefeated at the end, Cunningham making 97 from 100 balls and Wilson 70 from 87, both respectable strike rates. It seems they paced the early part of their innings poorly to leave Cunningham and Wilson just too much to do.

 

Folkestone’s poor season continued for them as they were soundly beaten by Blackheath ate the Rectory Field. There is little doubt who was man of the match in this one. The visitors elected to bat but found the pace of Tanweer Sikander and the wily spin of James Hands a handful. Despite a useful 68 bay Sam Ireland and 45 by Ben Harmison Folkestone were dismissed for an under par 180. Sikander ended with 3-14 and Hands 3-28. At 14-2 Folkestone may have a glimmer of optimism when Michael Thornley joined Tanweer Sikander. The two would see the game through to conclusions with Sikander leading the way with a fine 113 and Thornley 53, and 14 overs to spare.