In-form Sevenoaks Vine skipper Luke Schlemmer blasted his fourth successive century on Saturday to guide them to an eight-wicket win over high-fliers Minster in the Kent League Premier Division.

Schlemmer hit a 113-ball 144 not out to get the hosts to victory in impressive fashion at The Vine, chasing down Minster’s 313-6 in the 48th over.

He was supported by opener Evert Bekker (77) while wicketkeeper Harry Houillon was unbeaten on 46 off 30 balls to see them home alongside Schlemmer.

Earlier, Minster openers James Thompson, with 134, and skipper Ed Moore (74) had helped them reach a big total of their own, although James Logan (3-51) was the pick of the Sevenoaks bowlers.

That result allowed frontrunners Hayes to build a 13-point lead at the top as they beat Lordswood.

Batting first, Lordswood reached 269-6 from 50 overs thanks to half-centuries from captain Calum MacLeod (87) and Joe Gordon (66) while Kent all-rounder Alex Blake (2-41) was among the wickets.

But William MacVicar’s run-a-ball 127 not out got Hayes over the line, winning by six wickets in the 47th over.

Basement boys Beckenham’s struggles continued as they were beaten by 89 runs by fourth-placed Bexley.

Bexley won the toss and opted to bat first and, from the outset on a decent, easy-paced track, openers Aiden Griggs and Shaun Evans started steadily, reaching 114 before the fall of the first wicket.

To make matters worse for Beckenham, Junaid Nadir turned his ankle in the 13th over and had to be withdrawn from the attack.

As skipper Alex Senn resorted to an all left-arm spin pairing of Rob Clements and Ishan Sabharwal, it was the former who capped a splendid spell by having Griggs held by David Moody for 67.

Moody (4-46) got among the wickets himself while Rob Clements, with 3-35, did well too, but Evans (56) helped Bexley reach 235-8 from their 50 overs.

With Nadir incapacitated to an extent, skipper Senn decided to employ him in a pinch-hitting role as makeshift opener and, as the Beckenham reply began, it seemed as if it might just work.

With Gethin Roberts showing his growing maturity, the innings started brightly with 31 on the board before Roberts drove uppishly to be caught for 13.

Nadir, meanwhile, was enjoying himself hugely in dominating a stand of 42 with skipper Senn who - woefully out-of-form - departed to the spin of Patel (4-32).

Nadir followed almost immediately as he tried to reach fifty only to be easily caught on the boundary off Freddie Foster’s left-arm spin (2-26).

Thereafter, it was the same old story as a succession of Beckenham batsmen succumbed to Patel and they were dismissed for 146 in the 43rd over.

Although it’s mathematically possible for Beckenham to escape the drop, it looks highly unlikely with the club 54 points behind next-bottom Bickley Park.

Dipayan Paul inspired third-placed Blackheath to victory over Tunbridge Wells.

Batting first, he got 70 and fellow opener George Wells reached 100 exactly as they posted 265-6 from 50 overs. Opening bowlers Ryan O'Beirne (2-45) and Chris Williams (2-28) got among the wickets for Tunbridge Wells.

Captain Chris Williams (50) gave Tunbridge Wells’ reply a reasonable start, while both Alexander Williams and Michael Waller scored 41, but Tunbridge Wells were 216 all out.

Paul (4-52) and Arafat Bhuiyan, with figures of 3-29, got Blackheath to victory.

Sandwich beat second-bottom Bickley Park by six wickets.

Australian overseas bowler David Grant’s figures of 4-19, supported by Rory Smith (2-29) and Alex Smith (2-37), restricted Bickley Park to 167 all out in the 49th over. Safwaan Imitiaz (44) top-scored for Bickley Park.

In reply, Rory Smith struck 43 before he was dismissed, although two more Smiths - Alex (44 not out) and Jake (14 not out) - got them home in the 37th over.