Bickley Park still sit bottom of Kent Cricket League Premier Division despite home win; Leaders Minster, Hayes, Tunbridge Wells and Sandwich Town victorious
Published: 05:00, 15 July 2024
Updated: 08:30, 15 July 2024
Basement boys Bickley Park pulled off a surprise Kent League Premier Division win at home to third-placed St Lawrence & Highland Court by 58 runs on Saturday.
Daniel Magin led Park to 201 all out with 55 despite wickets for Sudesh Thakur (2-11), Josh Julian (2-32), opening bowler Joseph Payne (2-43) and John Grewar (2-48).
Will Hilton top scored with 41 in response, only for Ranjit Singh (4-17) and opening bowler Jason Benn (4-22) to turn the screw nicely.
Sandwich Town leapfrogged Lordswood to move up to fifth, beating the Lords by 20 runs.
Zack Fagg’s 88 guided them to 224 all out, Tom Davis (3-32), Hugh Scott (3-38) and South African overseas bowler Thando Ntini (3-41) among the wickets for the Medway side.
There were half-centuries for wicketkeeper Max Wood (64) and Joe Gordon (57) in Lordswood’s reply but they fell short of the target.
Sri Lankan overseas spinner Roshan Jayatissa and opening bowler Alex Smith returned figures of 3-26 and 3-37, respectively.
Leaders Minster were 27-run home victors against Blackheath at Gilbert Hall.
Opening batsman Dan Stickels (39) top scored during their 210 all out while Jay Bassan sparkled with 3-36.
George Wells scored 55 in Blackheath’s response, only for spinner Aron Nijjar (3-36) and opening bowler Bill Prideaux (3-43) to impress.
In-form Hayes maintained second spot as they made it a sixth consecutive win, seeing off third-bottom Bexley.
Opening batsman Gareth Severin blasted 126 off 118 balls and shared a 198-run partnership with Will MacVicar (75) in their 299-6. Harry Dowling (2-45), Freddie Foster (2-49) and Jack Sinfield (2-50) among the wickets.
In reply, Calum Basey top scored for Bexley, scoring 46 from 44 balls, only for MacVicar (4-27) and Alfie Peck (4-29) to restrict them to 218 all out in the 45th over.
Canterbury dropped back into the relegation places - albeit just three points behind Bexley - when they were consigned to a rain-affected 67-run home defeat to fourth-placed Tunbridge Wells.
Wicketkeeper Ben Dawkins’ 119 from 118 balls steered them to 280-6 from 50 overs, supported by Will Stickler, who struck an unbeaten 85 at Polo Farm.
Italian overseas all-rounder Anthony Mosca returned figures of 3-37.
Chasing a revised target of 254 from 40.4 overs, there were half-centuries for Mosca (67) and captain Isaac Dilkes (62) but it wasn’t enough for Canterbury.
Sri Lankan spinner Dileepa Jayalath (4-25) sparkled for Tunbridge Wells in the field.
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Bexley and Bromley Sport Canterbury Sport Isle of Sheppey Sport Kent Cricket Medway Sport Sandwich Sport Tunbridge Wells SportMore by this author
Thomas Reeves