Captain Matt Hammond was philosophical after St Lawrence & Highland Court lost a rain-affected Kent League Premier Division match at home against Tunbridge Wells on Saturday.

The 35-over game saw Hammond’s side beaten by 12 runs.

While the defeat - just their second of the league season - allowed Minster to extend their lead to 11 points, second-placed St Lawrence & Highland Court are 12 points clear of defending champions Lordswood in third.

Hammond reflected: “It was a tricky one. The rain-affected ones are always tricky.

“We came out the right side of it against Sandwich but were just the wrong side of it on Saturday.

“They came out the blocks really strongly, although we didn’t bowl badly, really, and stuck to the game-plan. Their opening batsmen just came off.

“After that start, we had to pull the game back and the next 20-odd overs only went for 90-odd runs and I thought 196 was actually about par.

“We were always behind the rate. But we got a bit lucky with the other results going our way and we’re still sitting pretty in second.

“So all in all, it wasn’t the worst of days.”

Tunbridge Wells totalled 196-8, albeit Jamie Hemphrey (3-37) and Australian overseas all-rounder Jason Sangha (3-28) did well to peg the visitors back after a 95-run first-wicket partnership.

“Jamie’s figures could potentially have been even nicer,” revealed Hammond. “He bowled first change and I think his first over went for 20-odd.

“So, to recover after that in the next six overs, that was really good.

"He has found a nice rhythm and I have not bowled Sangha much for a few weeks.

“Those two played a big part in getting us back in it.”

In their response, the hosts fell short despite Sudesh Thakur’s unbeaten 68 off 52 balls.

Hammond said: “We were in quite a commanding position with Olly Curtiss and Jason in.

“Then, it killed us a bit, losing Olly before drinks and Jason just after.

“The required run-rate leapt from seven to 11-an-over quite quickly after that. You don’t have time to play yourself in.

“Sudesh then got us close with the bat. He batted really well.

“Credit to them. Whoever bowled into the wind, they bowled well.

"It was another good game, another good one for the neutral.”

Next up for St Lawrence & Highland Court are Hayes at home on Saturday, with the 2022 champions having shot up to mid-table after back-to-back wins.

“They’re a good side,” said Hammond. “They have won the Premier Division before and we know that, on their day, they can beat anyone.

“There's a reason why they won the Premier Division. There’s no real walkovers in the league this year.

“But we will do our preparations in the week and try to bounce back.”

The following day, St Lawrence & Highland Court head to Polo Farm to play hosts Canterbury and Broadstairs in the KCL Twenty20 Cup.

Hammond said: “That will be good.

“It’s always good to have a bit of a change-up in the format. There might be some sore bodies on Sunday.

“But we did fairly well in the competition last year and it will be good to see how far we can go.”

Canterbury slipped into the bottom two, losing another rain-reduced home match to Minster.

Opening bowler Jarred Lysaught (3-82), Cameron Wilshaw (2-32) and Ben Rutherford (2-46) got among the wickets in Minster’s 264-7 from 40 overs.

In the hosts’ reply, Lysaught top scored with 62 off 43 balls and Canterbury captain Jarryd Taig offered 56 from 47 balls but the hosts were out for 194.

They will visit third-placed Lordswood on Saturday.