Shepherd Neame Premier League – week 11 review

Due to some perhaps surprising results, Hartley's lead at the top of the Division has now extended to 32 points, a lead which even with seven games to play seems a huge challenge for those in pursuit especially with the form of those below fluctuating.

Hartley played the home leg of their two encounters with Tenterden and reversed the fortunes of their one and only loss of the season to date at Morghew Park in May. Hartley simply outplayed their visitors on Saturday.

Tenterden won the toss and elected to bat. Andrew Crawford held their top order together with 45 and but at 78-3 Calvin Savage 3-14 and James Thompson 4-24 took complete control as Tenterden lost their last seven wickets for 28 runs to be bowled out for 106 in their 35th over.

James Hockley, 67 and Dan Stickels 38 made light work of the chase as they romped home after only 15.5 overs. In this form it is hard to see anyone stop them from lifting the title.

Having won their first game last week, Dartford made it two in a row by defeating the closest title chasers Blackheath by two wickets at the rectory Field. Dartford invited their hosts to bat first.

Their top three all got off to good starts, George Wells made 35, Jahid Ahmed 40 and Tanweer Sikander 44 but none were able to push further on.

The remainder of the Blackheath batting slightly disappointed as the Dartford bowling led by Jamie Williams with 3-47 kept the Blackheath middle order in check.

Blackheath we bowled out for 213 in their final over to set up an exciting chase. Opener John Smyth set Dartford on their way with 39 and Howard Powell scored a useful 73 to hold the middle order together.

Jamie Williams chipped in with 36 and on his dismissal to make the score 198-8 the match was in the balance. In Playfoot held his nerve to finish unbeaten on 29 to see Dartford home with six balls of the game remaining.

Bromley travelled to Sevenoaks Vine and left with a haul of 18 points in somewhat unusual circumstances winning by four runs and yet the Vine only seven down. The last over of the match must have been tense.

Bromley elected to bat and their top order all chipped in, Shavawn Cunningham topping the contributions with 44. Nick Sale was the pick of the attack with fie figures of 5-36 as Bromley accumulated 196 all out in 48.5 overs.

The Vine would certainly have hoped to chase this down. At 177-4 they looked favourites when Evert Bekker was out for a most useful 85. Adam Prescott 30 not out battled hard but the Bromley attack was proving hard to get away.

Yasir Arafat took 3-22 and Ben Kyman 3-40 and prevented the home side reaching their target ending four short as the final ball was delivered.

Lordswood took full advance of a 'wedding attending' depleted side and the lack of Alex Blake as they travelled to Foxgrove Road, Beckenham.

They came away with a much deserved victory. The home side elected to bat and their slightly makeshift top order all fought hard for runs but struggled to dominate a well-disciplined Lordswood attack along with some indifferent stroke play.

At 136-6 Raza Ali Dar 43 and Adam Senn unbeaten on 43 helped Beckenham to a perhaps a just defendable 197-7. The Lordsword reply was dominated by the 95 runs scored by opener Amjad Kahn and 40 by Jack Laraman in the middle order.

Amjad Khan mistimed a drive and missed out on a century but by the time he departed, Lordswood were almost home and dry and won by five wickets with a couple of overs to spare.

WEEK 11 RESULTS

Beckenham 197-7 lost to Lordswood 198-5 by 5 wickets

Blackheath 213-10 lost to Dartford 215-8 by 2 wickets

Hartley 109-0 beat Tenterden 106-10 by 10 wickets

Sevenoaks Vine 192-7 lost to Bromley 196-10 by 4 runs