Newly promoted Hayes remain the only unbeaten side after week four of the Kent League Premier Division, whilst there were wins for Blackheath, Minster, Bickley Park and Sevenoaks Vine.

They claimed a tight two wicket win at home to Tunbridge Wells after losing the toss and being asked to field first. Although Alex Williams scored a half century for the visitors, nobody else could cope with the Hayes attack. Andrew Eddicott took 4 for 32 and Will McVicar bowled a tight ten overs taking 2 for 11.

When Hayes were reduced to 72 for 7, Tunbridge appeared to be in the driving seat, but wicketkeeper Beau Couldrey kept a cool head to guide his team home. Ryan O’Beirne was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 27.

Despite suffering three run outs, Blackheath still accumulated 203 all out against Bexley. Mahi Mahfuzul top scored with 70 and Tanweer Sikandar added 65. Ed Nuttall was the most successful bowler taking 3 for 21.

Arafat Bhuyian took three wickets and a run out, taking 3 for 44 as Bexley stumbled to 39 for 5. Despite Ben Aldred scoring 30, they could not recover and were bowled out for 150.

Having opted to bat first, Minster scored 210 all out at Sandwich Town. Joseph Parry was the highest scorer with 73. Jan Gray took 5 for 35 for the hosts and David Grant weighed in with 3 for 53.

In response, Sandwich were always in touch with Kai Smith (60), Tom Burnap (47) and Alex Smith (31) all in the runs. However, Parry followed up on his batting exploits by taking 3 for 45 and the hosts were bowled out fifteen runs short of their target.

Bickley Park won the toss at Lordswood and chose to bat first. Touseeq Shah took the first four wickets on his way to 4 for 37, all caught behind by Shaun Parsley who finished with five victims. Hugh Scott claimed 3 for 35 but Michael Ridley scored an invaluable 49 as the visitors amassed 173.

That proved to be more than enough as Lordswood’s ten men without the injured Tom Davis slumped to 105 all out. Only one batsman made it beyond twenty as Max Luckett returned 3 for 20. Although Jason Benn could only manage 4.1 overs, captain Daniel Magin took 3 for 29 and Elliott Hooper 2 for 10 in his miserly ten overs.

At the wrong end of the table Beckenham hosted Sevenoaks Vine with both sides looking for their first win of the season. The hosts chose to bat first and Harri Aravinthan scored 62 not out after Yodin Punja removed the first three batsmen on his way to 3 for 43. Chris Vernon then took 4 for 22 as the hosts were dismissed for 138 with four and a half overs unused.

That was never going to be sufficient when Vernon, 57, and Evert Bekker with 51, put on 78 for the second wicket. Although nobody else scored double figures, they reached their target with four wickets and over fifteen overs to spare. 

Pictures supplied by Keith Gillard.