Kent Cricket League Premier Division leaders Bexley maintained top spot at the end of another exciting and intriguing Saturday that proved that anyone can beat anyone on their day.

They entertained Sevenoaks Vine to kick off their annual cricket week in a game that went right to the wire. Having won the toss, they invited their guests to bat first and had them in trouble at 39 for 1.

Harry Dowling took the first three wickets on the way to 4 for 20. Evert Bekker stood firm and scored an outstanding 84 before being last out with the score on 164.

Any thoughts that it would be a straightforward chase were soon dispelled when Bexley were reduced to 49 for 5. They inched their way to 100 for 7 but were pegged back by Sahil Shah’s 3 for 18 and Harry Robinson, playing for the first team for the first time in two years, taking 3 for 27.

Captain Adam Riley came in at 9 and kept calm scoring 34 not out, winning the match with a six in the final over with last man Dowling at the other end.

Second placed Tunbridge Wells hosted bottom club Holmesdale and were stunned when losing for the second week running. The visitors elected to bat first and Dom May hit a quick 44. When he was out, William Harby joined Leo Carter and they put on 133 for the fourth wicket.

Harby was first out for 69 before Carter fell for 71. The innings closed on 277 for 9, with bowling honours going to Alex Williams (3 for 55).

Chris Williams scored 46 but the home team were in trouble at 75 for 6 when Sam Smith was joined by Sam Huggett. They put on 108 when the former was dismissed for 70. When Huggett fell for 64, there was too much for Wells to do and they were bowled out for 218. Ben Fawcett ended with 4 for 37 and Callum Gallagher 3 for 42.

Victory for Holmesdale took them off the foot of the table at the expense of Sevenoaks Vine.

Starting the day in third place, Lordswood travelled to last season’s champions Hayes and claimed victory to move them back up to second. They were asked to bat first and took full advantage.

Thando Ntini scored 79 and Joe Gordon 30. However, Andrew Eddicott removed both, finishing with 4 for 47 and Hayes were still in the driving seat until Edward Taylor crashed 44 not out from 23 balls to take the Lords’ score to 270 for 8.

In response, only Rory Low, with 82, put up a fight before being last man out, falling to former Scotland international Calum MacLeod. He finished with 3 for 25 as Hayes were bowled out for 176.

St. Lawrence & Highland Court, in fourth place, visited Blackheath and having won the toss they batted first. They were another team to rely on their lower order after being reduced to 92 for 6.

Will Hilton held them together before departing for 61, removed by Kent’s Arafat Bhuiyan who claimed 4 for 40.

That left Blackheath requiring exactly 200, a total that never seemed to be within their grasp. George Wells scored 30 but they lost their last seven wickets for just fourteen runs. Darren Stevens was almost unplayable in his spell, claiming 4 for 15, and Jamie Hemphrey took 3 for 18 as the hosts were bowled out for 81.

Finally, Sandwich Town took on Minster at home and had to bat first after losing the toss. Daniel Masters (3 for 54) removed the first three before Ed Moore took 4 for 13, including Kent wicket-keeper Jordan Cox for 40.

Chasing 142 to win, Moore followed up on his bowling feats by crashing 83 from 42 deliveries before falling with 118 on the board. That was Sandwich’s only success as James Thompson finished on 49 not out with Minster winning by nine wickets and over 30 overs to spare.

Pictures supplied by Steve Griggs.