Hartley Country Club are continuing to cling to the coat-tails of Bromley at the top of the Shepherd Neame Kent Cricket League Premier Division.

They remain one point behind the leaders after last Saturday’s 72-run success over bottom club Beckenham.

Skipper Min Patel and Nicholas Lee both scored half-centuries for Hartley in their 50-over total of 223-8.

Kent player James Hockley failed with the bat, scoring only two, but he made amends with his off-spin, claiming 4-36 to help remove Beckenham for 151.

Simon Jones ripped through the Catford & Cyphers tail, taking 6-31 off 14.3 overs as they were dismissed for 165 by second-placed Harvel in Division 2.

But Harvel then experienced batting problems of their own, slipping to 87-5 before an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 82 between Alaister Ramsey (68no) and Dominic Saunders (24no) carried them to victory.

Harvel, however, remain 34 points behind leaders Sibton Park after the latter defeated Downham & Bellingham by 141 runs.

More cricket in this week's Messenger