After the entire Kent Cricket League Premier Division programme was flushed away seven days earlier, there were no similar problems in the penultimate Saturday of the season.
Coming into the game needing one more victory to guarantee winning the title, Minster visited Lordswood, not one hundred percent safe from relegation and it was the hosts who claimed a comfortable victory.
Although being asked to field first, Lordswood took wickets regularly and bowled the hosts out for just 85. Adeel Hussein claimed 4 for 25, and Calum McLeod 4 for 31.
Despite Yashraj Joshi returning 3 for 28 in his Minster first eleven debut, the home team raced to their target in under fourteen overs to win by six wickets.
Third played second when St Lawrence & Highland Court hosted Blackheath and it was the visitors who won to take the title into a final week two horse race. The visitors elected to bat first and were bowled out for just 154. Jack Hersh scored 37 and George Wells 33.
Kent bowler Arafat Bhuiyan then kept the Heath in the game claiming 4 for 35 as the hosts collapsed to 47 for 7. Brad Reynolds, 40 not out, gave them hope but Australian Riley Ayre, with 3 for 37, put paid to the lower middle order, and they were bowled out for 116 to end their dreams.
Only one other team still had an outside chance of becoming champions at the start of the weekend. Hayes had a derby game at bottom club Bickley Park who needed to win their last two to keep their slim hopes of beating the drop alive and it was the hosts who claimed the victory. They asked the visitors to bat first and dismissed them for 141. Jason Benn removed the top order with 4 for 36 with only Rory Low, with 50 not out, putting up resistance. Wicketkeeper Sebastian Naylor enjoyed the afternoon, taking four catches.
Michael Mitchell scored 45 in Bickley’s response as they eased home by three wickets with eight and a half overs in hand.
Both teams needed a win in their battle to avoid relegation when third from bottom Sandwich Town entertained the team immediately below them, Canterbury. The home team elected to field first and bowled out their guests for 158. Duncan Moore scored 36 and Billy Amouche 33 but William Thurgate’s first eleven career best of 4 for 21, and Zack Fagg’s 3 for 8, kept them in check.
Shahmeer Malik scored a patient 43 as Sandwich cruised to a five wicket victory, condemning both Bickley Park and Canterbury to the drop.
Finally, Tunbridge Wells welcomed Bexley with the victors guaranteed to remain in the Premier Division, however other results meant that both were safe. The hosts were asked to bat first and recorded two of only three Premier Division half centuries on the day. Sam Smith top scored with 88 and Kent’s Marcus O’Riordan notched 55 as they ended on 235. Jamie Batten was the pick of the bowlers, returning 4 for 31.
Dileepa Jayalath proved to be almost unplayable, claiming 4 for 12 in ten overs. Ahmad Jamal scored 38 and Ellis Daly 31 but Bexley fell well short on 144 all out.
Images courtesy of Keith Gillard