Minster saw off another potential title challenger on Saturday to maintain a healthy lead at the top of the Kent League Premier Division.

The island side have a 26-point cushion at the halfway stage of the season having beaten Tunbridge Wells, defending champions Lordswood and much-fancied St Lawrence & Highland Court in their last three games.

More: Kent Cricket League Premier Division round-up

Chasing a revised target of 199 against St Lawrence, Minster knocked the runs off with three overs to spare for a six-wicket win.

Captain Dave Masters said: “We’ve been beating the top teams which is really important, Tunbridge Wells weren’t right up there but are a side that could be so that was a big win as well.

“I said to the players that if we won those three we would put ourselves in a really good position and we’ve done that.

“I would have ripped someone’s hand off at the beginning of the season to be in this position - even though I told the boys I want us to go unbeaten this year! That was probably more wishful thinking than anything else.”

Minster made some shrewd signings this summer and the new additions have helped. Opener Dan Stickels impressed again on Saturday with a knock of 73 and a 134-run opening partnership with Masters.

Overseas man Quinn Sunde added an unbeaten 36 to see them home. Earlier James Speer had taken 5-44, including a hat-trick from legal deliveries as he ploughed through the tail-end, having struggled early on.

“It was probably the worst he’s bowled all year upfront but he came back and bowled some good death stuff,” Masters admitted.

“He’s bowled so well in other games, that is what happens in cricket. You can bowl really well one day and not pick up any wickets and then another day don’t bowl as well and pick up a few. He deserved the wickets he got after bowling so well the weeks before.

“He got some nice wickets at the end with people trying to take it on, picking up three or four towards the end and so that will be good for his confidence - even though he doesn’t need a lot of it as he is a confident lad anyway.”

Masters has had a relatively settled side this season which has been a big help, saying: “We had a couple of pros last year who couldn’t be there week in, week out.

“Aron Nijjar has missed a few games this season but hasn’t been anywhere near as many.

“We went with Laurie Evans last year and only had him for games here and there.

“As good as those lads are, and will always be better than the lads we have, sometimes having the same people week in, week out actually you play with a bit more of a team spirit and people fight for each other a bit more, which has been really good.

“People know their roles and the jobs to do in the team and it’s where we have stepped ahead of most of the other teams.”

Minster’s weekend opponents St Lawrence were 218 all out off 49.2 overs. The revised target was 199 from 45 overs which they reached in 42 overs.

“It was never an issue and we won it a lot easier than I thought we would,” said the skipper.

“I think we had the best of the wicket, the wicket got better second innings and I don’t think they got enough runs, probably 40 short. It allowed me and Dan to play without needing to take risks, which is perfect for us, we don’t go out there and blaze it around so that went in our favour.

“It was a good team performance from us but I still think there is more to come from our team, we played okay but can play even better and that is always pleasing.”

Blackheath are next up for Minster, a team sitting fourth in the table and Masters is confident his side will steer clear of becoming complacent.

“We have to keep our foot down, I won’t allow them to be complacent in any way,” he said. “If we keep doing the right things I can’t see many people getting too near to us.”

The second half of the season does see a change in the Kent League with pink balls and coloured clothing, with Minster opting for a black kit to start the run-in.

Masters was planning on a good session with the pink balls during training last night (Tuesday) and said: “The balls are a bit different, we don’t know what they will do, in the past the pink balls have done a bit upfront early on and they have swung and then got soft.

“Changing balls halfway through the season is something different, it will be interesting and adds a bit of spice to it. It is a good change up with the coloured clothing as well, we’ve chosen the black kit, so if the sun does decide to come out in the middle of summer we might scorch a bit!”