Uncertainty with the weather played may have played a part in every team, bar one, who won the toss electing to field in week five of the Kent League Premier Division.
Continuing their unbeaten start to the season, newly promoted Hayes had their bowlers to thank for extending their run at Lordswood. Although Finlay Baker scored 32, everyone else struggled against tight bowling. Touseeq Shah was again the pick of the bowling with 4 for 35.
However, that proved to be more than enough for the league leaders as the hosts were bundled out for 97. Andrew Eddicott continued his good form with 3 for 26 and the rest of the wickets were shared around.
Sam Smith scored 87, supported by Ryan O’Beirne’s 38, for Tunbridge Wells at home to Blackheath as they finished on 219. Arafat Bhuyian took 4 for 27 and Tom Foster 3 for 52 for the visitors.
O’Beirne then got to work with the ball as Blackheath were reduced to 15 for 4 and they never recovered, going down by 102 runs. O’Beirne finished with 5 for 29 and Ian McLean claimed 3 for 29.
Bickley Park were the one team who chose to bat first when entertaining Sandwich Town, but they were bowled out for 169. Krishna Padmanabhan top scored with 68 but couldn’t find anyone to support him against accurate bowling. David Grant and Jay Gray each took 3-29.
In response, Sandwich made light of the chase, winning by six wickets with over seven overs to spare. Opener Benji Niewoudt scored 54 and a patient 42 not out from Tom Burnap saw his team home.
Kent spinner James Logan led the way with 36, batting at three, for Sevenoaks Vine at Minster.
Michael Cowdrey then took over scoring 56 not out as the Vine finished on 171. Daniel Masters returned the best bowling figures with 3-22.
Edward Moore scored 56, and Joseph Parry 45, as the hosts timed their chase well. James Thompson ended the contest with a six as the promoted side eased home by six wickets with eight balls to spare.
At the wrong end of the table Bexley hosted Beckenham with the two sides occupying the bottom two places in the table. After easing to 57-0, Bexley slumped to 62 for 4 with Kamran Khan taking an impressive 2 for 9 from his ten overs.
However, George Haley (94 not out) and Matthew Stiddard (64) saw them through to 242 for 7, Junaid Nadir finishing with 3 for 55.
No Beckenham batsman scored more than twenty as the Bexley spinners accounted for eight of the nine wickets that fell. Shaun Evans claimed 4 for 21 and Freddie Foster 3 for 24 as the innings came to a close on 146 for 9.
Pictures supplied by Keith Gillard.