Kent League Premier Division leaders Minster went further clear at the summit when winning a thriller.

They visited in form Tunbridge Wells and, having been asked to bat first, they got off to a great start with a 109 opening partnership before David Masters was removed for 40.

Two runs later, fellow opener Dan Stickels went for 55 and the hosts wrestled back some control. Although James Thompson scored 41, wickets fell regularly at the other end with Michael Waller claiming 3 for 41 and the innings closed on 236 for 8.

Sahil Shah (63) and Sam Smith (56) put on 120 for the second wicket before both were removed. Daniel Masters took 4 for 40 to keep the middle order from getting away and the injured Liam McGroarty was forced to come in as last man with his team still five runs short.

James Speer kept the final over tight and a run out from the penultimate delivery ensured a two run victory for the team from Sheppey.  

Defeat for second placed St. Lawrence and Highland Court when they went to Hayes meant that they dropped one place. The visitors batted first and didn’t regret the decision when putting on 152 for the first wicket before Finnan Bryan was dismissed for 53.

Grant Severin went on to score 113. Despite a break in mid-innings, Alex Blake scored a rapid 46 and Miguel Barbosa was unbeaten on 30 as the visitors finished on 275 for 5 from 45 overs. John Grewar took 3 for 62.

Set an imposing revised total of 292 from their 45 overs, Jason Sangha’s 78 from 37 balls gave the hosts hope but although Will Hilton scored 30, the scoreboard pressure proved to be too much and they were bowled out for 243 with Scott Gallagher returning three for 58.

That allowed reigning champions Lordswood to leap frog them with a comfortable win at home to Canterbury. The visitors made a solid start after choosing to bat but excellent bowling by Joe Gordon (4 for 43) and Adeel Hussein (3 for 24) reduced them to 153 all out. Only opener Fred Sharp, with 37, put up much resistance.

An opening stand of 116 between Callum McLeod and Owen Palmer in eleven overs put the result beyond doubt. McLeod was extremely harsh on any inaccuracies from the bowlers smashing 70 from 35 deliveries while Palmer scored 30, also from 35 balls. The target was reached with six wickets down before the halfway stage of overs bowled.

Starting the day in fourth place, Blackheath made the short trip to Bexley and elected to bat after winning the toss. They struggled against accurate bowling and Matthew Golding’s patient knock of 53 proved crucial as they finished on 157. Freddie Foster took 3 for 33.

When Bexley put on 50 for the second wicket, they looked well in control but they had no answer to Riley Ayre who claimed 5 for 25 in his ten overs, and with nobody reaching 30, they were dismissed for 123.

Finally, there was a welcome win for Sandwich Town to take them off the bottom of the table. They won the toss and took first knock at home to Bickley Park but were not having it all their own way until Zack Fagg joined Ryan Davies. Although the latter fell for 48, Fagg went on to plunder 94 from 75 deliveries and some late hitting by the lower order saw them through to 279 for 8.

Elliott Hooper (40) and Ranjit Singh (31) got the visitors off to a solid start but both were removed by Ben Smith, on his way to 3 for 39 before Fagg (3 for 17) took care of the lower order as Bickley were dismissed for 139.

Pictures supplied by Keith Gillard.