Leaders Blackheath made it three wins from six matches in the Shepherd Neame Kent League Premier Division with a 44-run home success over Bickley Park on Saturday.

Invited to bat first, Blackheath set a target of 254-7 thanks mainly to a vital seventh-wicket stand between Dipayan Paul (67 not out) and Mehdi Abba (53). Opener Ben Fulton led Bickley's reply with a spirited century but, with Warren Lee claiming 4-42, they were bowled out for 210 with two overs remaining.

Sevenoaks Vine are in second place, two points behind, after recording a six-wicket victory over Canterbury at Polo Farm. Young Kent all-rounder Fabian Cowdrey played a prominent role for Vine, taking 3-22 to help restrict Canterbury to 136-9 and then striking an unbeaten 75 as the Sevenoaks side reached their target in the 47th over.

Hartley Country Club, having had three of their matches abandoned this season, managed to complete their match against Beckenham after it was reduced to 90 overs - and picked up a seven-wicket victory into the bargain. In bowler-friendly conditions, Andy Tutt (5-45) and James Thompson (4-22) combined to remove Beckham for just 90, and then Charlie Hemphrey (38) and James Thompson (31) steered Hartley home with some aggressive stroke play after they had lost three early wickets.

Lordswood, struggling at 50-6 batting first, recovered to beat Tunbridge Wells by 70 runs at Martin Grove. Lords eventually set a target of 179 all out thanks to a well-constructed 57 from Amjad Khan, and Matt Greenwood then ripped through the Wells top order with an excellent spell of 5-16 as the visitors were removed for 109.

The only top-flight match which failed to produce a definite result was at Bromley where Bexley gained a winning draw. They were bowled out for 192, Adam Ball top-scoring with 59, and then narrowly failed to claim victory as Bromley finished on 161-9.

Picture: Hartley celebrate taking another wicket against Beckenham