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Bexley set to play at Lord's in ECB National Club Championship final while top two lose in the Kent Cricket League Premier Division
09:12, 22 August 2022
updated: 18:26, 22 August 2022
Bexley are set to play at Lord’s after they clinched their place in the ECB National Club Championship final on Sunday.
The reigning Kent League Premier Division champions beat Potterne by 65 runs in their semi-final at Manor Way and will take on Cheshire County League outfit Nantwich in the final.
Matthew Stiddard (68) and Kent’s Ollie Robinson (54), opening the batting, got Bexley to 242-8 from 40 overs.
Shaun Evans’ figures of 4-21, backed up by Freddie Foster (2-29) and opening bowler Adam Ball (2-30), did the rest for the home side, as Potterne were 177 all out in the 36th over.
That result capped off an excellent weekend for third-placed Bexley who had won by 31 runs away to second-bottom Bickley Park a day earlier.
George Haley (107) and opener Evans (65) got them to 266-4 from 50 overs.
In reply, Bickley Park were 235 all out as Ball was the pick of Bexley's bowlers with 3-32.
Frontrunners Hayes were beaten by Blackheath but they remain top after second-placed Minster also lost.
Kent’s Alex Blake (3-26) was best with the ball to ensure Blackheath could only reach 162 all out in the 43rd over. Ross Richardson top-scored with 51.
Captain Beau Couldrey top-scored for Hayes with 30, leaving them 114 all out - also in the 43rd over - well short of their target. Opening bowler Tanweer Sikandar (3-9) doing most of the damage in a disciplined display.
But fifth-placed Tunbridge Wells won at home to title-chasing Minster.
Greg Lamb (5-37) restricted the hosts to 276-7 after a good start which had been led by Christopher Williams (103) with a century.
But despite captain Ed Moore’s 58, Minster were all out inside 43 overs for 205, opening bowler Matthew Barker (3-20) and Michael Waller (3-44) in the wickets. Minster are now 11 points off the summit with two league matches left.
Sandwich Town’s troubles worsened when they lost at home to already-relegated Beckenham.
It was a second defeat in a row for Sandwich and just a third league victory in 2022 for basement boys Beckenham, a result which leaves Sandwich only three points clear of second-bottom Bickley Park.
Ben Smith and opening bowler Harry Bee, with 2-39 and 2-48 respectively, ensured Beckenham could only reach 227-6. Archie Holman (56 not out) and Rob Clements (50) batted well.
Opener Zack Fagg (59) top-scored in Sandwich’s reply but they were all out for 164. Ishan Sabharwal came to the fore with 4-31, supported by James Ronay (3-26).
Sixth-placed Lordswood beat Sevenoaks Vine, who are now seventh and only 17 points clear of the bottom two places, by five wickets.
Kent opener Ben Compton played for Sevenoaks, however in-form skipper Luke Schlemmer (51) got the bulk of the runs in their 204-9. Calum MacLeod (3-30) shone for Lordswood.
Captain MacLeod then struck 70, supported by Jack Laraman’s unbeaten 46, which got them home in the 47th over.
James Logan (2-38) was the best of the Sevenoaks Vine bowlers.