Frontrunners Minster proved too strong for defending champions Lordswood as they moved 23 points clear in the Kent League Premier Division on Saturday.

Ed Taylor led the way with 45 from 31 balls in Lordswood’s 141 all out, Aron Nijjar (3-15) and opening bowler James Speer (3-33) taking three wickets apiece.

Opening bowler Thando Ntini (4-36) bowled well to leave Minster 84-7 before Speer and Nijjar saw the Sheppey side to victory in the 27th over with unbeaten knocks of 45 and 11.

Darren Stevens-inspired St Lawrence & Highland Court returned to second spot, seeing off hosts Blackheath by 79 runs.

Veteran former Kent all-rounder Stevens fired 121 off 97 balls during their 50-over total of 306-8, well supported by Oliver Curtiss (65), as Kent’s Arafat Bhuiyan returned 5-55 from 10 overs.

Opening bowler Joseph Payne (5-44) then left Blackheath well short despite Riley Ayre’s 79.

Hayes are third - three points behind St Lawrence & Highland Court - after a fourth consecutive league victory over basement boys Bickley Park.

Alfie Peck (3-19) and opening bowler William MacVicar (3-32) helped keep Bickley Park to 129 all out.

In reply, MacVicar delivered an unbeaten knock of 39 to see Hayes home in the 31st over despite opening bowler Jason Benn’s 2-35 from nine overs.

Canterbury are 10 points ahead of second-bottom Sandwich Town after they earned a five-wicket win over them.

Half-centuries from Rory Smith (51) and Ben Chapman (50) during a 96-run second-wicket partnership steered Sandwich to a 50-over total of 209-8. Lewis White (2-32), Italian overseas international Anthony Mosca (2-41) and Ben Rutherford (2-43) got among the wickets.

Canterbury were then led safely across the line with eight balls to spare, largely thanks to all-rounder Mosca (77 not out) and Ben Marsh (56), despite wickets for Sri Lankan overseas spinner Roshan Jayatissa (2-35) and opening bowler Harry Bee (2-56).

Bexley thumped Tunbridge Wells at home by 135 runs.

Skipper Matthew Stiddard (93) and wicketkeeper Ben Aldred (50) shared a 97-run stand in their 257-6, opening bowler Sahil Shah (3-44) in fine form.

Opening batsman Chris Williams top scored with 24 from 22 balls in Tunbridge Wells’ 122 all out as Freddie Foster returned figures of 3-14 from six overs.