Betteshanger's Clive Towe misjudges the ball against Old Brockleians

It was a nerve-racking but eventually memorable day for all three of the area’s Shepherd Neame Kent League clubs on Saturday.

Betteshanger clinched promotion from Division 5 while Sandwich Town and Walmer both survived the drop from their respective divisions.

Betteshanger hammered Old Brockleians by 224 runs at the Welfare Ground where the highlight was a spell of 6-17 by Andy McNicholas, including a hat-trick, as OB’s were blasted out for just 51 in reply to Bettes’ 275-6.

And with Blackheath 3rds being held to a tie by Offham, it meant that Bettes leapfrogged Blackheath back into the second promotion spot behind champions Old Wilsonians – a superb achievement by Derek Towe’s side in their first season in the Kent League.

More cricket in this week's Mercury