THE Mote cricket club at Maidstone appear to have won their battle to retain the services of young opening batsman, Tom Harvey, despite interest in the player from fierce Kent League rivals Lordswood.

The 21-year-old former Bluebell Hill Colt was the pick of the club's batting last season having amassed 450 runs, his endeavours earning an award from the league of a cricketing scholarship to South Africa, where he is at present.

James Marriott, his club colleague who spent the first part of the winter playing alongside Harvey in club cricket in Australia, said that the player had indicated before leaving for South Africa that he would remain at The Mote, whom he first joined as a 15-year-old.

The Mote are also pretty confident of retaining Mark George, their Australian overseas opening bowler, for a third successive year.

Harvey's decision will disappoint Kevin Masters, the Lordswood captain, who was keen to attract the opener who appeared for Kent 2nd XI last season.