Sandwich Town skipper Jan Gray has explained how former player Marnus Labuschagne helped introduce the club to their latest overseas recruit.

Australian Labuschagne starred for Sandwich in 2014 and the 28-year-old’s career has gone from strength-to-strength since.

While playing in the Garden of England, Labuschagne became friends with team-mate Rory Smith, who is also a semi-professional footballer.

Smith has since had stints living with Labuschagne Down Under where he first met James Bazley, who has become Sandwich’s latest overseas this summer.

Gray said: “Rory is very good friends with Marnus Labuschagne who was the overseas about 10 years ago.

“I understand Marnus and James are good friends.

“When Rory has met up with Marnus and stayed with him, that’s how he got to know James over the years.”

Bazley, also 28, played a key role as a cracking contest went down to the wire when Sandwich beat Holmesdale by a single run in their opening Kent League Premier Division game of the campaign last Saturday.

He blasted a half-century and got among the wickets.

But Gray warned: “We will not put too much pressure on James.

“A lot of people come overseas and it’s tough, people feel they need to be the best player in the team at every game.

“But James is an exceptional cricketer, he showed that at the weekend, especially with his batting.

“He was different class and hit the ball a very long way – which was good for us to watch!”

Holmesdale had won the toss, skipper Anthony Bissett electing to field, but, with the score 59-2, Town’s Zack Fagg steadied the ship.

He put on 104 for the third wicket with Bazley, who hit three sixes in his 40-ball 58.

Fagg (71) was the fourth wicket to fall, leaving No.8 Tom Burnap to add 31 from 38 balls.

“Zach, the last two years especially, has fulfilled the ability we always knew he had,” Gray noted.

“He’s one of the better batsmen in the league, generally.

“It was nice to see him get a good start to the season.”

Sandwich were all out for 270 after 47.1 overs.

In reply, despite an impressive 134 not out by Leo Carter, Holmesdale fell short of their target as they reached 269-7 in 50 overs.

Opening bowlers Alex Smith (2-50) - Rory’s brother - and Bazley (2-70) took two wickets apiece. Kent all-rounder Grant Stewart also played for Sandwich but didn’t bowl.

Gray reflected: “It was great. To start the season with a game like that was about as much as we could have hoped for, really.”

The opening-weekend triumph was made even sweeter by the fact all other matches in the division were called off due to weather.

Gray said: “Being isolated on the east coast of Kent can be hard.

“But when it means the weather misses us - because it’s basically another planet - it’s pretty good actually!”

Sandwich hit the road for the first time this term today when they visit last season’s runners-up Minster.

“We had quite a similar game to what we just had last weekend against Minster last season,” said Gray, who finished 10 not out with the bat and with bowling figures of 1-38 against Holmesdale.

“Although Minster is a very small ground, it makes for exciting cricket. Games like this bring the cream to the top.

“A good bowler can still restrict and a good batsman can still flourish.

“Ideally, we will get another good result.”

Sandwich 2nds saw their Division 3 game at Staplehurst 1sts washed out.