There was derby-day delight for St Lawrence & Highland Court, who edged to a two-wicket win at Canterbury on Saturday.

Chasing 204 for victory at Polo Farm, the away side looked some way short - until captain Matt Hammond (36 not out) and No.10 Jamie Hemphrey (11 not out) put on 52 runs for the ninth wicket to get them home.

That came amid the run chase after Australian overseas all-rounder Jason Sangha, captain of Sydney Thunder, had given them a good platform with a 95-ball 97, despite four wickets apiece for Canterbury duo Jarred Lysaught (4-31) and Syan Bulathsinhala (4-48).

Earlier, Lewis White (51) top scored in the hosts’ 203 all out as former Kent all-rounder Darren Stevens returned figures of 3-33.

“It was really good,” reflected Hammond on the victory.

“We turned up and there was a sodden outfield. I don’t know if it rained or was dewy.

“I think we both wanted to do the same thing at the toss, and we drew the short straw with that. But we bowled pretty well and took wickets at key points.

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“Jamie Hemphrey took wickets and opened the bowling with Ben Mills. The pitch then dried out and they got a decent partnership towards the end.

“We thought their total of 203 was pretty close to par but we always fancied it.

“We potentially thought, at 132-7, we could get them out for something a bit lower than that. But one of their lads, Lewis White, batted really well to get them towards a decent score.

“Jason then played absolutely incredibly with the bat. The deck was a bit up-and-down but he acquitted himself so well on it.

“I think he was kicking himself a bit when he got out. Then, their captain, Jarryd Taig, brought Jarred Lysaught back on for three overs.

“It was good captaincy, doing that just after the spinner got Jason out.

“He got two out in his last over and I was looking at the score at 162-8, thinking ‘Oh God!’. But me and Jamie just took it 10 runs at a time.

“It was a good game for the neutral.”

On his own contribution for the Shrimps, Hammond said: “Jason got 97 and I only got 30-odd - but I would have much rather been out there in the middle than on the side.

“I’m not sure I’d have had any fingernails left otherwise!

“There were a few points where I thought ‘This is going to be a bit tricky’ but testament to Jamie for staying out there with me.”

For St Lawrence & Highland Court, it was a second successive league success this summer - both coming against the two promoted teams.

Hammond said: “They were two banana skins and we were happy to get through them.

“Anybody can beat any team in this league.

“There’s no easy game now and you cannot turn up for any game, thinking ‘This is going to be a walkover’.”

Next is the visit of Lordswood on Saturday while Canterbury visit Bexley.

Defending champions Lordswood are again being hotly tipped to be one of the teams to beat.

“That will be a bit of a test but we have played some pretty good cricket in the last few years to get where we are,” Hammond said. “We will just see how we go.

“I think Lordswood will be strong this year and they have got to be the ones to beat.

“But every game is one you want to get up for. Hopefully, we will be able to put another strong side out this weekend.

“If we do that and we play our best cricket, we will not be far away.”