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Bickley Park moved off the bottom of the Kent League Premier Division table as they earned a three-wicket win against frontrunners Minster on Saturday.
Minster posted 218-9 from 50 overs, Elliot Hooper (3-35) and opening bowler Ismail Baharami (3-45) among the wickets as Kai Appleby (82 not out) and Haider Zaidi (52) got half-centuries for Minster.
Bickley Park opening batsman Cam Hawkins then led the way, offering 74, to get them home with seven balls to spare despite David Masters’ figures of 3-36.
The result leaves Bickley Park still 10 points away from third-bottom Sandwich Town 1sts and safety.
Second-placed St Lawrence & Highland Court are 23 points from the summit, having edged past visitors Bexley.
Wicketkeeper Ben Aldred’s unbeaten 55 steered Bexley to 258-7 from 50 overs despite 18-year-old Josh Julian’s 3-49.
Shineyu Anand (70), supported by Sudesh Thakur’s 49 off 45 balls, helped ensure St Lawrence & Highland Court were victorious from the final ball, making 259-8. Former Kent spinner Adam Riley (2-39), opening bowler Freddie Foster (2-51) and Ahmed Jamal (2-55) doing well.
Canterbury are bottom after they were beaten by nine wickets at home against third-placed Hayes.
There were half-centuries for Billy Amaouche (82) and Italian international all-rounder Anthony Mosca (65) during Canterbury’s 245 all out, with captain Alex Blake and Alfie Peck taking 3-52 and 4-45, respectively.
But Finnan Bryan (112 not out) and Gareth Severin (86) shared a 173-run first-wicket stand as Hayes got home in the 40th over.
A low-scoring game saw Tejpal Birdi-inspired Blackheath see off hosts Lordswood by 20 runs.
Birdi top-scored with 19 but Hugh Scott (3-6) and opening bowler Adeel Hussain (3-24) restricted Blackheath to 108 all out.
In response, Birdi shone with 3-14 as Lordswood were skittled despite Jack Laraman’s 38 from 37 balls.
Tunbridge Wells claimed a one-wicket win at Sandwich Town.
Sandwich totalled 202 all out as skipper Zack Fagg (45) and Sri Lankan overseas player Roshan Jayatissa (40 from 21 balls) made contributions. There were wickets for Liam McGroarty (2-20), Freddie Freeman (2-34), Michael Waller (2-34) and Sri Lankan overseas spinner Dileepa Jayalath (2-38).
Opening bowler Alex Smith’s 3-37 gave Sandwich Town hope but Chris Williams blasted 79 from 59 as Wells were the victors.