Minster moved top of the Kent Cricket League Premier Division on Saturday.

A 35-run victory over Hayes came a week after a defeat to Sandwich Town in what’s looking like an ultra-competitive top-flight.

More: Kent Cricket League Premier Division round-up

Minster captain David Masters was thrilled to have quickly put the Sandwich defeat behind them but knows no game in the Premier Division will be easy.

“This week was brilliant,” he said. “We bounced back really well, probably should have got another 20 more runs but we always knew anything around 180 we would be hard to beat.

“It was a good win, a good bounce back and puts us top for the first time.

“We have to keep going, keep playing well but it’s not been a bad start. We would have taken that had someone said at the start of the season that we’d win the first three out of four. It’s always good to get off to a decent start.”

Minster host an inconsistent Bickley Park side this Saturday.

Masters said: “Bickley have won two and lost two and as we have seen so far, it’s very competitive all round, teams beating each other.

“Tunbridge Wells have lost three out of four and that’s a bit of a shock to me, and Bexley have lost twice.

“There are some strong teams this year, you can lose a couple of games and end up in the bottom half and win a couple and be right up there.

“The fact that anyone can beat anyone is what makes it such a good league.”

Minster batted first against Hayes, after winning the toss, and recovered from losing early wickets.

Kai Appleby (63) and Aron Nijjar (51) put on 93 in a fifth-wicket stand that proved crucial in reaching 187 all out.

With the likes of Alex Blake in the Hayes team, Minster knew they still had plenty to do but James Speer took 4-50. Max Luckett (2-18) picked up the key wickets of opener and top scorer Gareth Severin (36), along with Blake (19).

Bill Prideaux - who took six wickets the week before - dismissed Will MacVicar (33) and there was also a wicket apiece for Nijjar and Chris Piesley.

Masters said: “James has looked like our most dangerous bowler to be honest, I know young Willam (Prideaux) got six last week but he (Speer) has got what he deserved after his performances in the last three or four weeks, he’s been our best bowler.

“Hayes will give a lot of teams a good game, they have three very good batsman and you are never ever safe. No matter what you get, it only takes one of them boys to score. They have three or four players who are very dangerous.

“We needed to get wickets, we have lots of wicket-takers, a very good bowling side and I think 200 would have been par but with our bowling attack probably 180 is par. We could have got a few more runs but Nijjar and Kai played really well and got us up to what proved to be a winning target.”