Bearsted Cricket Club are the newly crowned Kent champions of the National Village Cup.

The Bears clinched the regional title on Sunday, with a 78-run victory over Sibton Park, after restricting the visitors to 144 all out as they chased 222. They now face national opposition as one of 32 teams fighting for a place at a Lord’s final.

It’s the first year the club has entered the competition, which is backed by The Cricketer. Piers Cottee-Jones captains the village side who have won three tough games to clinch county honours.

“It was an unbelievable team performance,” he said. “Everyone stepped up and put in a shift.”

Sixteen-year-old Christian Roberts (56) top scored for the team, opening the batting with the more experienced Noel Johnston.

The youngster overcame a big moment, at fault as Johnston was run-out for 27, but he put that behind him to hit 56 off 54 balls.

“He has shown he has an excellent future,” said the captain.

“He made a miss-judgment but to have turned that around, to have kept going in such an important match, is testament to how good he is.”

Charlie Luxton (30), Mark Sandhu (45) and Dave Charlton (24) were among those to add runs as the visitors were left chasing 223 for victory on The Green.

A great opening burst from Miles Henslow (2-23) and Sandhu (1-24) had the visitors reduced to 40-3 in reply, before Alex Lush, who would usually open the bowling, came on and claimed 4-32. Sibton Park were bowled out for 144.

That win follows up victory over West Farleigh in round one and then a five-wicket win over High Halstow, successfully chasing down 187-9, thanks largely to a 129-run second wicket partnership between Noel and Ben Johnston (88 not out).

Cottee-Jones’ team are also topping the Corona League tier one Division B after three weeks of action and he said: “We’ve got a super young team, I am the third oldest and I am 27. We’ve got some really exciting players coming through.

“It’s one game at a time, our feet are on the floor and we are just really proud of what we have achieved so far.”

There’s little time to rest for the team as they face the first national knock-out match this Sunday, at home on The Green, hosting East Sussex champions Glynde & Beddingham following their 10-wicket regional final win over Buxted Park.

"This is new territory for us and we'll just see how far we can go," the captain added.

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