Hartley Country Club’s hopes of taking their Shepherd Neame Kent Cricket League Premier Division title defence into the final week ended with a three-run home defeat by new champions Bromley.

Chasing 234, Hartley finished on 230-9 with last pair Andrew Tutt and Darrell Carter unable to finish the job, leaving Bromley to celebrate having been runners-up twice in the last two years.

Hartley looked on course to win at 191-5, but the loss of Matthew Coles, Min Patel (pictured) and James Cramp in the space of 13 runs turned the game Bromley’s way. Top scorer Nick Lee (72) went with the score on 214 and then Daniel Redwood was bowled by Ed Giddins three runs later.

Patel (3-35) and Redwood (3-43) were the pick of the Hartley attack as Miguel Barbosa (62) top scored in Bromley’s 233.

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