Broadstairs need a significant helping hand from the fates if they are to avoid relegation after slipping to a 21-run defeat to KCL Division 1 rivals Folkestone on Saturday.

The result left the Thanet side rock bottom on 118 points, eight adrift of Sibton Park and 17 behind Whitstable.

Their two nearest rivals face each other on the final weekend at Lyminge while Broadstairs entertain already-promoted Bexley knowing that even a 20-point maximum probably will not be enough to save them.

Defeat at Cheriton Road was particularly tough on Fakir Dungaria who scored 60 of Broadstairs’ 123 as they replied to the home side’s total of 141.

Of the other batsmen only Oliver Robinson (28) and opener Terry Bond (16) reached double figures, as Folkestone legspinner Luke Samarasinghe returned match-winning figures of 6-33 in 11.2 overs.

The Broadstairs bowlers had earlier done a good job in containing Folkestone, with Liam Narraway (3-28 in eight overs) the most successful.

His brother Scott had excellent figures of 2-11 from eight overs, while Ashley Ellison took 2-31, Andrew Marshall 2-21 and Dungaria 1-31 from 15 overs.