THE AREA under-10 cricket festival was played over three days at Old Stacians CC with the Mid Kent side the eventual worthy winners.

Mid Kent included the best players from the Ashford, Maidstone, Swale and Tunbridge Wells districts and the games were played against Metropolitan, East Kent and West Kent.

On the first day a superb spell of pace bowling by Old Stacians player Daniel Stickels reduced Metropolitan to 41 all out. Stickels took a career best five for five from six overs with his first spell being five for three runs in four overs. Mid Kent won by 8 wickets.

Second day honours went to Swale's Chris Pielsey who produced a match winning 24 not out as Mid Kent chased East Kent's 83 all out to win by two wickets.

On the final day Mid Kent bowled out West Kent for 44 with Maidstone's Dominic O'Connell taking five for nine in a superb spell of medium paced bowling. Mid Kent duly produced a nine wicket win and were delighted when South African test star Darryl Cullinan presented them with the trophies.

The side was captained in some style by Old Stacians' Chris Vernon.

Further to his fine bowling over the three day festival Stickels has been selected to play for the County Under-10s against the district cup winners Swale.

KENT'S UNDER-9s have completed their season with two close games against Essex and Surrey.

Playing Essex at Hayes CC they conceded a daunting 183 in 38 overs. However, Old Stacians colt Chris Vernon and Daniel Bell-Drummond from Lewisham put on a superb opening stand of 85 in only 16 overs to put the county in a strong postion.

The loss of Vernon for 27 brought in Chris Piesley and he and Drummond kept the score building against some tight bowling. Drummond eventually fell for a superb 56 and with light failing Kent ended on 173-3.

The Surrey game was played at West Malling CC and this time Kent batted first with Chris Vernon again in good form at the top of the order.

Stands of 38 with Drummond (9) and Jonathon Amos (19) led Kent to a healthy 100-1 before Vernon was out for a season's best 37.

Kent eventually closed on 151-9 and a strong Surrey side made a fine effort to get the runs ending on 148-8 in an exciting finish.

This was Chris Vernon's first season representing the county and his scores have steadily improved over the whole season. He has now cemented a place at the top of the order and is looking forward to winter coaching with the county.