It was celebration time in the Kent League Premier Division as Hayes were crowned champions with a week of the season remaining.

They won at already relegated Beckenham while the only team that could catch them, Minster, fell to a tight defeat at in form Bexley.

Having won the toss, Hayes elected to bat first and racked up 271 for 8 in their fifty overs. Will MacVicar led the way with a masterly 108, and he was supported by Gareth Severin (47) and Tomas Gallagher (41). Harri Avarinthan took 3 for 42 and Alexander Senn, 3 for 67.

Although he missed out with the bat, Kent’s Alex Blake starred with the ball, taking 4 for 30 off his full compliment of overs, and MacVicar took 3 for 34 as the hosts were bowled out for 205.

Avarinthan top scored with 60, Rob Clements score 41, and James Fear 33. Aiden Griggs returned to the Bexley team to hit a superb 108 not out. George Hayley scored 49 and Matthew Stiddard 38 as the hosts finished on 256 for 6. Kent II’s all-rounder Joe Parry took 3 for 54.

James Thompson scored 95 in Minster’s response and Ian Sels scored a patient 48 not out but the Bexley bowlers kept chipping away and kept their visitors down to 247 for 9 to win by 9 runs. The wickets were shared around but Anish Patel was by far the most economical bowler of the match with 1 for 23 from nine overs.

At the other end of the table, it will be either Bickley Park or Sandwich Town who will join Beckenham in making the drop. Bickley were defeated at Blackheath after batting first and scoring 240 for 9. Safwaan Imitiaz and Daniel Magin each scored 60 after opener Charlie Smith had notched 38. Jahid Ahmed bowled superbly for the Heath and finished with 5 for 28.

George Wells scored 38 as the first four batsmen all got in before being dismissed and it took 80 from Brendan Louw to get them close enough for the later batsmen to ease them home by three wickets with just three balls remaining. Elliot Hooper’s 3 for 43 was to no avail.

Sandwich Town had a resounding victory over Lordswood and five bonus points in their final game will be enough to see them escape the drop. Jake Smith scored a crucial 89 for them after Zach Fagg and Kai Smith had both been dismissed for 43. Moses Raza returned 3 for 44 and Hugh Scott 3 for 48 as the hosts finished on 241 all out.

That proved to be more than enough as Lordswood were bowled out for 155, Michael French top scoring with 40. Jan Gray took 3 for 15 from 7.3 overs.

Only Sevenoaks Vine were successful chasers on the day and visitors Tunbridge Wells didn’t give them too much of a challenge. None of their batsmen scored more than twenty as they were bowled out for 86. Andrew Reid-Dick took 4 for 31 after Matt Dalton had taken 3 for 15 from his ten overs.

Picture supplied by Keith Gillard.