Leaders Lordswood are on the brink of winning the Kent League Premier Division title after they edged past visitors Minster in a rain-disrupted match on Saturday.

They begin the final round of games eight points clear of second-placed Tunbridge Wells and with already-relegated basement boys Holmesdale as their hosts this Saturday.

A 41-ball Ed Taylor 59 and a 47-ball Bradley Goldsack 49 saw them finish as their two top scorers in their 50-over total of 283-9 after a 91-run opening stand between Linden Lockhart (42) and Max Wood (41). Essex spinner Aron Nijjar (3-49) claimed Minster’s best figures.

Set a revised target of 144 from 28 overs, the Sheppey side’s skipper, Ed Moore, blasted 60 off only 37 balls but they fell eight runs short.

Hugh Scott (1-32) and South African overseas Thando Ntini (1-36) took a wicket apiece for Lordswood.

Tunbridge Wells and third-placed Bexley can still mathematically catch the frontrunners, though - with the former leading the chasing pack after they won another rain-affected match.

They were 23-3 before Sam Smith’s 102 got them to 226-9. Ahmed Jamal (4-35) the best Bexley bowler.

Set a revised target of 197 from 37 overs, Bexley were 10-3 and, although George Haley (50) scored a half-century, they were skittled for 110. Opening bowlers Michael Waller (4-17) and Matthew Barker (3-17) did the bulk of the work.

Tunbridge Wells finish at fourth-placed St Lawrence & Highland Court while Bexley, 15 points off the summit, host Sandwich Town.

Second-bottom Blackheath won a low-scoring affair at Sandwich Town to keep their survival hopes alive and dragged their hosts back into the battle to avoid the drop.

Matthew Golding’s 5-32 from 10 overs helped limit the hosts to 98 all out despite an unbeaten Cody Nieuwoudt 44. Set a revised 76 in 31 overs, Blackheath got across the line with more than eight overs and six wickets to spare despite scalps for Alex Smith (2-18) and Ben Smith (2-19).

Golding ended unbeaten on 17, joint-top scoring with Tanweer Sikandar.

They’ll be at home to third-bottom Sevenoaks Vine, seven points clear of them, in a huge game, with Hayes also on the same number of points as Sevenoaks and Sandwich just a point ahead.

Hayes’ weekend home encounter against St Lawrence & Highland Court was abandoned after 30 overs with the visitors 134-8. The defending champions finish at Minster.

Sevenoaks Vine beat Holmesdale by nine wickets in another rain-reduced match - thanks in part to Kent opener Ben Compton.

Carlos Maynard’s 111 steered Holmesdale to 295-8 while Sahil Shah (3-35) did well.

Ollie Chaplin (1-32) got an early wicket with the hosts chasing a revised target but 29-year-old Compton (61 not out) and Chris Vernon (54 not out) saw them to victory in the 25th over.