Further victories for Hayes and Minster kept them fighting it out at the top of the Kent League Premier Division with Hayes still holding a one point lead.
They visited Sevenoaks Vine in a high scoring match and claimed a 66 run victory after being inserted after losing the toss. Kent’s Alex Blake smashed 120 not out off just 82 deliveries, Gareth Severin scored 72, Tomas Gallagher hit 53, and James Bamber weighed in with 39. Amongst the carnage, Sam Jones took 3 for 59, and Luke Schlemmer 3 for 70 as Hayes finished on 349 all out.
Schlemmer scored 107 in the response, Michael Cowdrey hit 66, and Ben Compton 46, but they were bowled out for 283 with Will MacVicar claiming 4 for 40, and Scott Gallagher 3 for 54.
Second placed Minster hosted Bickley Park who elected to bat first. Safwaan Imitiaz scored 72, Michael Ridley 40, and Elliott Hooper 31 as the visitors finished on 203 for 9.
Minster paced their response well, winning by six wickets with one over to spare. Aron Nijjar guided them home with 97 not out after Joseph Parry followed up his previous week’s century with a fine 70.
Blackheath Maintained third place at home to Sandwich Town courtesy of a four wicket win. The visitors chose to bat first but lost wickets at regular intervals until David Grant hit a belligerent 52 not out to back up Tom Chapman’s 31. Tejpal Birdi returned 3 for 44 in a final score of 223 for 8.
Tanweer Sikander led the response but was dismissed just two runs shy of his ton. Ross Richardson scored 52, and despite Harry Bee’s 4 for 45, the hosts claimed the eighteen points in the final over.
It was plain sailing eventually for Tunbridge Wells when they hosted bottom placed Beckenham. The hosts won the toss and batted first. Viraj Bhatia top scored with 40 and Sam Smith 39. However, Mudit Dayal bowled superbly, taking 4 for 30 as the home side were dismissed for 196.
That proved to be ample in the face of accurate bowling and the visitors were dismissed for just 123. Michael Waller claimed a superb 4 for 19 from his ten overs, and Christian Davis finished things off with 3 for 11
In the final game Bexley entertained Lordswood and claimed a vital victory to give themselves some breathing space at the wrong end of the table. Having decided to bat first, a solid 35 from Aiden Griggs gave them a good base. Despite that, they looked as if they may be in trouble when reduced to 151 for 6, but vice-captain Matt Stiddard remained calm and scored 92 not out, backed up by skipper Adam Riley’s 40 not out from 29 deliveries.
Set 235 to win, only Joe Gordon (47) and Michael French (42 not out) posed a threat as Adam Ball (3 for 25) and Freddie Foster (3 for 44) helped bowl the visitors out for 188.
Next Saturday, Hayes host Minster in a match that may go a long way into deciding the championship.
Picture supplied by Keith Gillard.