A SUPERB 116 by former Kent skipper Steve Marsh helped Gore Court move out of the relegation places following their first Premier Division win of the season.

Without Rob White, called up by Northants, and with West Indian Franklyn Rose unable to bowl due to a shoulder injury, a much-depleted Gore Court side dug deep to record a four-wicket victory against Bexley.

James Hockley (70) gave Bexley the perfect start, sharing a first-wicket partnership of 73 with D Thompson (33). Australian Gareth Shaw (70) and D Furnival (40) added 90 for the fourth wicket as Bexley looked set for a huge total at 228 for three.

However, young Dan Buckle with one for 74 from 15 overs and skipper Nigel Sharp (two for 43) put the brakes on and restricted Bexley to 276 for seven from their 55 overs. The other wicket takers were Martin McCague, two for 56, and Kevin Jones, two for 60.

Gore Court still faced a tough target and a run rate of over five runs an over from the outset.

Openers Marsh and Mark Skinner (28) got the home side off to a fine start, putting on 60 in the first 14 overs.

But it was a second-wicket partnership of 167 between Marsh and McCague that laid the foundations for an unlikely win.

Marsh was at his imperious best with 116 from 153 balls in a three-and-a-half hour stay. He was ably supported by the in-form McCague (85) and the pair brought Court to the verge of victory.

It was left to Chris Dovey and a few hefty blows from Rose to seal victory with more than four overs remaining.

Veteran opener John Bowden set The Vine on the road to a winning draw with last year’s Kent League champions St Lawrence on Saturday.

Bowden’s innings, which included 11 fours, ended when he became the fourth victim of James Lincoln just two short of his century.

Vine’s batsmen saw off St Lawrence’s two Kent bowlers Matthew Dennington (none for 18) and Simon Cusden (one for 50). Cusden turned out for Kent in Tunbridge Wells the following day.

After Bowden, skipper Matt Banes took up the baton with 49 as The Vine moved on to 245 for nine in their 55 overs.

In reply, top-placed St Lawrence lost James Medhurst without scoring, but Trevor Irvine and Ian Baldock put on 73 for the second wicket before wickets started to fall steadily. Andrew Lamb finished with three for 41 and Matt Banes with two for 55 in the absence of Kent’s Alex Loudon.

Australian Irvine was fourth man down, but not before he had hammered 115. However it was not enough as the visitors finished 42 runs short of their target.

The Mote skipper Lawrence Waters blamed a poor batting display for the disappointing draw against Canterbury in Division One.

He said: “We batted too slowly and didn’t put them under any pressure. Chris Back and James Marriott both got out to poor shots.”

Seam bowler Darren Wheeler claimed a hat-trick, but Canterbury, after being put in, reached 175 for nine. Teenage opening bowler Tom Parsons also bowled tightly while Glen Aukett took three wickets in a steady 15-over spell.

The Mote limped to 152 for nine with South African overseas player Stephan Grobler hitting 37 and Back 36.

Waters suffered a leg injury, but should be fit for the league game at Sandwich Town.