Minster got their season back on track at the weekend - just in time for a huge fixture this Saturday.

A run of three consecutive defeats had left them well off the pace in the opening weeks of the Kent Cricket League Premier Division season, but they enjoyed a thumping eight-wicket win over Sevenoaks Vine to re-energise their title hopes.

Next up is a trip to early leaders Tunbridge Wells, the division’s only unbeaten side with five wins from their opening six fixtures.

Captain Ed Moore led by example with the bat last Saturday, hitting 88 off only 49 balls, as Minster needed just 15.2 overs to knocks the runs off against Sevenoaks, having bowled the home side out for 143.

“It was really nice to get back on the winning streak with a league win,” Moore said.

“It was nice to lead by example performance-wise, not just with a voice, but to score some runs and contribute to the success of the team.”

Following defeats to Holmesdale, St Lawrence and Bexley, there was plenty of talking done prior to their weekend game.

The captain said: “We spoke of what we could do better and try and get into the right habits, making sure we do things consistently well. The talking has been done and it’s just a matter of execution now.

“Each person understands their roles a little bit better and I believe that if we can win another one now, get a few on the bounce, we will gain a bit of momentum and hopefully that is all we need. We have got the skills, it is more about putting it together on the day.”

Aron Nijjar was back for Minster on Saturday with his first appearance of the summer, taking 2-21, while James Hockley also claimed a couple of wickets and Chris Piesley made light work of the tail, returning 4-17.

Hockley (18) provided the back-up as Moore hit four sixes and 13 fours in his 88 when the openers started the reply strongly. James Thompson (31 not out) hit three sixes and was then able to guide them home to an early finish.

The season is a third the way through now. Minster are 32 points behind the leaders and are hoping to gatecrash a group of four teams at the top who have all started strongly.

Moore said: “If you look at the table any team can beat anyone on the day, there is a lot of unpredictability this year, upsets, things happening, we are always in with a chance.”

Looking ahead to the game against the leaders, he added: “This should be a good one. Tunbridge Wells are always a good team, they play some good cricket.

“We’ll be missing a couple of our players but we’ll find replacements and ways to still try and come home with a victory. It will be a nice challenge again.

“For us we need to focus on what we need to do, on our processes, because I know if we can get it together on the day then we will beat any team.

“It is about not being too sidetracked by the opposition and what they do but more about what we can control. If we do that and get it together then we will be unstoppable.”

Minster fielded a mixed team on Sunday in the Conference Cup and lost by 46 runs, all out for 189 following 235-8. Opener Kai Appleby’s impressive 93 wasn’t enough while Moore’s knock of 21 was the best of the rest.