Although every game in week ten of the Kent Premier Division was won by the team batting first, only one captain won the toss and elected to set a target.
League leaders Minster hosted Blackheath and worked hard to score 210 all out. Dan Stickels top scored with 39 and James Thompson scored 34. Both were dismissed by Jas Bassan who finished with 3 for 36.
In reply, the hosts lost early wickets before George Wells scored a crafted 55 to put them in a strong position. However, having reached 124 for 3, they lost their last seven wickets for 59 runs with Aron Nijjar taking 3 for 36, and Bill Prideaux 3 for 43.
Form guide leaders Hayes entertained Bexley and hit the highest total of the day, racking up 299 for 6. Grant Severin scored 126 from 118 balls in a partnership of 198 with Will MacVicar, who fell eventually for 75. Rory Low hit a quick 38 and Tom Gallagher a rapid 35 overs before the innings drew to a close.
Calum Basey hit 46 at faster than a run a ball, Jack Sinfield 38, Adam Riley 34 and Ellis Daley 30, but none went on to get the big score required. MacVicar followed up his knock with 4 for 27 and Alfie Peck continued his excellent season taking 4 for 29 as the visitors were dismissed for 218.
Stuttering St. Lawrence and Highland Court visited bottom club Bickley Park who gave themselves hopes of staying up with a comfortable victory. Daniel Magin top scored for the hosts with 55, his first half century of the season, and Ranjit Singh and Cam Hawkins each scored 37 before they were dismissed for 201.
Jason Benn, 4 for 22 from 10 overs, and Singh, 4 for 17 from 7.4, then got to work as they bowled their guests out for 143 with the only real resistance coming from Will Hilton, who scored 41.
Fifth placed Lordswood travelled to Sandwich Town and the hosts broke the trend by opting to take first knock. At 65 for 5, with Tom Davis taking 3 for 32, they looked to be in trouble. Zack Fagg then scored 88, supported by Kit Keay 35 before they were bowled out for 224. Hugh Scott claimed 3 for 38 and Thando Ntini 3 for 41.
Max Wood, 64, and Joe Gordon, 57, put the visitors in a strong position but, having reached 174 for 4 they slumped to 204 all out. Roshan Jayatissa was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 26 from ten overs and Alex Smith took 3 for 37.
Finally, two clubs in the bottom half of the table met with Canterbury at home to Tunbridge Wells. Kent second eleven teenager, Ben Dawkins, scored 119 at a run a ball and Will Stickler 85 not out as the visitors closed on 280 for 6 despite Anthony Mosca’s 3 for 37.
Mosca then hit a rapid 67 to back up 62 by Isaac Dilkes but when bad weather brought the match to a premature close, the home team were well behind on 186 for 8. Dileepa Jayalath returned the best figures of the day with 4 for 25 from his ten overs.
Images courtesy of Keith Gillard