Kent all-rounder Fabian Cowdrey played his part with bat and ball to help Sevenoaks Vine go top of the Shepherd Neame Kent Cricket League Premier Division on Saturday.

Vine beat visitors Canterbury by 18 runs after successfully defending 239-7.

Opener Karl Pearson finished unbeaten on 98 for Vine while Cowdrey made 43. Another Kent player, paceman Charlie Hartley, took 3-59.

Sam Lowry top-scored with 76 in Cantebury’s reply of 221 as Cowdrey took 2-42.

The win sees Vine move four points clear of defending champions Hartley while Canterbury stay second last with two games to go.

Hartley moved second after a 59-run win at home against bottom-side Bickley Park.

Jake Hutson scored 52 as Hartley posted 248-9 after Jos Siddall finished with 6-41.

Siddall then hit 61 as his side replied with 189 all-out. James Thompson, who earlier scored 29, took 3-34.

Blackheath dropped from first to third after a 93-run defeat at Sandwich Town.

Young Australian opener Marnus Labuschagne scored 114 as Sandwich scored 259-7 before Blackheath could only manage 166 in reply.

Craig Spanton took 3-28 for Sandwich.

Lordswood are fourth, 10 points behind Vine, after beating Bromley by 118 runs.

The first four Lordswood batsmen, Palash Joshi (50), Mohamad Rushan Jaleel (62), Matt Greenwood (53) and Lyndon Lockhart (54), all registered half centuries to help their side post 323-9.

Relegation-haunted Bromley were all-out for 205 in reply.

The other game of the round between Beckenham and Bexley finished incomplete after a Bexley fielder was hit on the head by a return throw.

Beckenham had scored 218-3 chasing Bexley’s 234-7.