Hartley Country Club have opened up a 13-point lead at the top of the Shepherd Neame Kent League Premier Division following Saturday's five-wicket win at home to Sibton Park.

After electing to bat bottom-of-the-table Park struggled against the Hartley attack led by James Hockley (4-41). In reply Hartley raced to victory in 18.2 overs, Dan Stickels top-scoring with 31.

Lordswood moved back into second place after disposing of Blackheath by 106 runs at Martin Grove. Sensible batting from Lyndon Lockhart (84) and Amjad Khan (66) plus a breezy 34 from Matt Greenwood enabled the home side to set a target of 275-7.

Khan and Jack Laraman then picked up three wickets apiece to ensure the Blackheath reply never got off the ground and they were dismissed for 169.

Sevenoaks Vine have moved into title contention in recent weeks and they continued their run of good form with a six-wicket success over Bickley Park.

After being invited to bat, Park struggled to 152-9 and it would have been a lot worse but for a half century from Abhijit Kale. Sevenoaks made relatively light work of their task, John Bowden and Fabian Cowdrey both scoring 36 and Ollie Howick ending the game unbeaten on 33.

Defending champions Bromley produced a disappointing batting performance as they lost by 40 runs to Bexley in a low-scoring encounter at Manor Way.

Bromley looked well placed after reducing Bexley to 90-6 but an unbeaten 69 from Sandeep Bains enabled the home side to total 163-8. Bromley then succumbed to 123 all out in the face of some tight Bexley spin bowling.

Down at the bottom The Mote threw themselves a lifeline with their 113-run victory at third-from-bottom Tunbridge Wells.

Skipper Tom Harvey, the leading scorer in the Kent League with 797 runs, hammered an unbeaten 150 to help his side set a target of 277-5 and then Kent all-rounder Matt Coles (pictured) claimed 5-31 as Wells were removed for 164.