It was all change at the top of the Kent League Premier Division in week 4.
Only 2023 champions Lordswood came into the latest round of fixtures unbeaten. However, that ended when they hosted Tunbridge Wells, the only team without a win.
The visitors elected to field and may have wondered if they had made the right decision when Owen Palmer tucked into their bowling, biffing 43 from 31 balls before being dismissed with 61 on the board.
Although opening partner Linden Lockhart scored 41, nobody hung around with him and the Lords were bowled out for 165. Michael Waller took 3 for 22 and Matt Barker 3 for 41.
That proved to be nowhere near enough as Will Stickler scored 51 and Chris Williams 46 before Alex Williams, 47 not out, saw Wells through to a comfortable win by six wickets with over 15 overs to spare.
Second placed Bexley also lost when they visited Bickley Park. This match was much closer. The visitors elected to bat but Ismail Baharami took out their middle order with 4 for 52 including the important wicket of Matt Stoddard for 50.
After the hosts had put on 55 for the first wicket, Elliot Hooper held the innings together before holing out for 70. Freddie Foster (3 for 33) and Jack Sinfield (3 for 35) made it a tight finish before Bickley’s last pair saw them through with three balls to spare.
Starting in third place, Minster travelled to Hayes and took full advantage of the top two’s slip ups by winning and going joint top. They also chose to bat first and found themselves in strife at 35 for 4. Kai Appleby (63) and Aron Nijjar (51) got them into a good position before Scott Gallagher removed both on the way to returning 4 for 31 as Minster were bowled out for 187.
Gareth Severin scored 36 and Will MacVicar 33 to put Hayes in a good position on 87 for 2 but only Tom Gallagher with 32 was able to put pressure on the Minster bowlers before Hayes were bowled out for 152. James Speer was the most successful bowler with 4 for 50.
Fourth placed St. Lawrence and Highland Court made the short journey to Sandwich Town and won a reduced overs match to join the Sheppey based side at the top of the table. The hosts won the toss and batted first and built there knock around Tom Chapman’s 56, finishing on 173 all out from their 30 overs.
Jason Sangha smashed 77 from 58 balls to put the visitors in a good position but they still needed 38 not out by Jason Hemphrey from 17 deliveries to reach their target in the final over, winning by three wickets.
Finally, Blackheath, who started the day in fifth place, were also on the road when playing at Canterbury. They chose to field first and the hosts scored 196 for 8 from their 50 overs. Anthony Mosca continued his good form with 55 and Duncan Moore added 35.
Only Matt Golding with 31 threatened for the Heath as Cameron Wilshaw took 4 for 30 and Syan 3 for 15 to dismiss their guests for 122.
Images courtesy of Keith Gillard