Catch up with all the action as Kent’s sides faced their sixteenth weekend in the Shepherd Neame Kent Cricket League.
SHEPHERD NEAME KENT CRICKET LEAGUE
PREMIER LEAGUE
WEEK 16 – 22 AUGUST 2015
Beckenham 128-10 lost to Bexley 196-10 by 68 runs
Hartley 230-2 beat Tunbridge Wells 226-10 by 8 wickets
Lordswood 284-6 beat Folkestone 192-10 by 92 runs
Sandwich Town 216-9 beat Bromley 134-10 by 82 runs
Sevenoaks Vine 257-10 beat Blackheath 220-10 by 37 runs
Hartley now just need nine points from their remaining two games to guarantee the title, with now only third placed Sevenoaks Vine, with a game in hand, being able to mathematically catch them. A second defeat on the spin puts Beckenham out of the race. At the other end of the table, the battle as to who joins Folkestone in Division 1 next year heated up as Sandwich defeated Bromley and now sit just 12 points behind the South-East London Club. Bromley must secure seven points from their final two games to guarantee safety.
Hartley made light work of chasing down a below par 226 posted by their visitors Tunbridge Wells at Culvey Close. Hartley elected to field and Nick Selman got his side heading in the right direction with 48 and took his side to 90-1 when he departed. The introduction of Sam Weller and Jack Laraman changed the course of the game as they chipped away at the Tunbridge Wells middle order where only Chris Williams 44 and Robert Sehmi 53 made significant contributions. Weller ended with figures of 4-33 and Laraman 3-37 as Tunbridge Wells were bowled out for 226 with seven deliveries of their innings remaining. Nick Hendrie and Dan Stickels got Hartley off to a flying start reaching a partnership of 125 when Stickels was dismissed for a well-made 70. Hendrie went on to a fine unbeaten 100 from 96 balls and a Breezy 33 not out by James Hockley ensured Hartley romped home in just the 37th over.
The bowling performance of the day came from Sandwich Town’s Oliver Collins whose 6-33 has perhaps given his side a glimmer of hope for survival, as they beat eighth placed Bromley by 82 runs at the Butts. Sandwich Town, invited to bat first by their visitors never made any significant partnerships and it was only thanks to Geraint Jones and Rory Smith scoring 38 each and Robert Gotham 31 that Sandwich were able to battle to 216-9 from their 50. Robert McNeill with 3-43 returned the best figures for Bromley. In reply Bromley had few answers to Oliver Collins and with only two batmen reaching their twenties were skittled out for just 134 inside 36 overs.
Beckenham had a second shocking batting performance in two successive weeks at Foxgrove Road. Bexley elected to bat and steady contributions of 35 by Matt Stddard and 34 from George Wells set Bexley in the right direction but neither could go on to larger scores. A useful unbeaten 40 by Adam Riley at the end steered Bexley to a par total of 196 from 49.3 overs. Olly Howick and will MacVicar both took three wickets apiece. Bexley bowled and fielded well during the short and disappointing Beckenham innings which showed very little grit and determination. Only Raza Ali Dar with 35 and will MacVicar 29 made any meaningful contribution as Beckenham slumped to 128 all out in the 35th over. Michael Stevenson with 3-27 had the best figures in a fine all round performance from the bowlers. This defeat ends any outside mathematical hopes Beckenham may have had for the title.
The only side now with a glimmer of hope in catching Hartley are Sevenoaks Vine who did all they could to stay in contention with a 37 run victory over Blackheath. On a glorious day at the Vine the home side had no hesitation in batting first when they won the toss. Openers Oilver Durell and John Bowden both made half centuries (51 and 50 respectively) to set a good platform for Miles Richardson 34 and Michael Barber 75 to kick on mid-innings. Dipyan Paul with 5-33 kept some check on the Sevenoaks side as they were bowled out from the final ball of their last over for a competitive 257. Lorne Burns with 5-32 had the top half of the Blackheath order struggle for partnerships. Despite 58 by Tanveer Siknader Blackheath found themselves at 141-6 towards the end of Burn’s spell. Joe Kerridge with 58 and Disal Wijerathne 24 offered some hope for Blackheath but the dismissal of Kerridge on 220 ended the Blackheath innings and the outside chance they may have had off the final 22 balls of the match.
A fine unbeaten 104 from just 83 balls by Chris Piesley together with a useful knock of 63 by Matt Greenwood helped Lordswood amass 284-6 having elected to bat, as they entertained Folkestone at Martyn Grove. The visitors were in deep trouble at 86-6, of which Himanshu Waingankar made 41 and out of the game at 135-8. Much of the damage was caused by Dan Masters with 3-22 and Greg Smith 3-25. Andy Bray added some respectability to the total with a spirited 58 near the end but their innings finally ended on 192 in the 44th over.