Shepherd Neame Kent Cricket League – week 11 review

Hartley still head the table after a comfortable win over Folkestone and extend their lead to twelve points as Beckenham lost for the second week running, writes Errol Valentine.

Wins for Sevenoaks Vine and Blackheath raise them to second and third in the table respectively.

Hartley scored 217-8 from their 50 overs and bowled Folkestone out for just 51. This now leaves Folkestone 29 points from safety and they are in much need of improved form to avoid relegation. Sadly at the time of writing Folkestone have entered no match detail other than the scores.

Sevenoaks Vine had a close win over Bexley. Electing to bat at Manor Road, the Vine struggled for runs and it was thanks to a useful knock of 62 that they managed to reach a modest total of 203 when their innings ended in the 50th over. Michael Stevenson, Harry Furze and Adel Malik took three wickets each for Bexley.

At 150-4 with opener Matt Stiddart and George Haley at the crease, Bexley look well set for 18 points. Haley then fell for 32 and just 13 runs later Tom Parsons trapped Stiddart in front for70 and the game swung the other way.

Tom Coldman who ended with 4-41 cleaned out the Bexley lower order as they slid to 187 all out.

Warren Lee top scored for Blackheath with 56 as the home side were restricted to 213-8 by visitors Sandwich. The opportunity for Sandwich to perhaps ease their relegation fears were short lived.

Tanweer Sikander and Jahid Ahmed bowled unchanged as they routed Sandwich for just 49, no batman reaching double figures and giving the impressive figures of 6-25 for Sikander and 4-24 for Ahmed. This leave Blackheath in third place.

Nick Selman 66 and Robert Sehmi 42 were the main contributors to the Tunbridge Wells total of 247 all out after they had elected to bat first at Foxgrove Road, Beckenham.

The home sides batting disappointed with the exception of 43 from Alex Blake, but Will MacVicar looked to be steering the home side toward victory but he was dismissed for a well-made 80 and the lower failed to reach their target be bowled out just 7 runs short. They drop to fourth place but still only sixteen points behind the leaders.

The mid table clash between Bromley and Lordswood ended with the visitors taking the eighteen points away from Plaistow Lane. The hosts elected to field and Chris Piesley anchored to Lordswood inning with a useful 84, but whilst a number of his side made starts none went on to build a sizeable total.

With James Butterfill leading the way with 5-28 and Nathan Hill taking 3-43, Bromley went on to bowl out their visitors for 217. Shavawn Cunningham mad a fine 93 but with his departure Bromley were just unable to up the tempo sufficiently against a steady Lordswood attack and ended agonisingly short on 211-8.

WEEK 11 RESULTS

Beckenham 241-10 lost to Tunbridge Wells 247-10 by 6 runs

Bexley 187-10 lost to Sevenoaks Vine 203-10 by 16 runs

Blackheath 213-8 beat Sandwich Town 49-10 by 164 runs

Bromley 211-8 lost to Lordswood 217-10 by 6 runs

Folkestone 51-10 lost to Hartley 217-8 by 166 runs