Lordswood are Kent Cricket League Premier DIvision champions after last-day win at Holmesdale while Sevenoaks Vine are relegated: Hayes, St Lawrence & Highland Court, Bexley and Blackheath win
05:00, 04 September 2023
updated: 09:25, 04 September 2023
A low-scoring game saw Lordswood edge past relegated Holmesdale to be crowned Kent League Premier Division champions on Saturday.
There were some nervy moments for the Medway club in their five-wicket away win but they finished 15 points ahead of second-placed Bexley.
Jack Laraman (5-17) and captain Calum MacLeod (3-14) did the hard work to skittle Holmesdale out for 78 in the 18th over.
There was a twist, however.
Callum Gallagher (5-21) ploughed through Lordswood’s top order to leave them 23-5 and the match firmly back in the balance until MacLeod (32 not out) and Bradley Goldsack (27 not out) saw Lordswood across the line in the 20th over to spark joyous scenes.
Bexley ended their league campaign with a one-run triumph over Sandwich Town, who stayed up by the narrowest of margins.
Calum Basey’s 65 steered the hosts to 168 all out while Cody Nieuwoudt (3-27) shone for Sandwich.
Rory Smith delivered a fine 81.
That wasn’t enough for Sandwich on the day - as Freddie Foster (3-29) and Ellis Daly (3-31) claimed scalps - with Smith run-out off the penultimate ball to leave them all out. But they’ll remain in the top flight next year.
It’s second-bottom Sevenoaks Vine, who finished level on points with Sandwich, going down alongside Holmesdale after their 55-run loss at Blackheath.
The hosts posted 252-9 thanks to a 108-run opening stand between Jas Bassan (63) and George Wells (54) while Kent’s Daniel Bell-Drummond also contributed 40. Sam Jones (3-54) was best with the ball for Vine.
In reply, Ben Price fired a 57-ball 58 but he fell to Tanweer Sikandar (5-36) - as did Kent opener Ben Compton (17) - and Sevenoaks Vine were some way short of the victory line.
St Lawrence & Highland Court came fourth in their first summer back in the top flight and ended with a narrow home triumph against third-placed Tunbridge Wells.
Captain Matt Hammond’s 70 guided St Lawrence to 200 all out from 101-6 at one stage when Kent red-ball skipper Jack Leaning (29) went. Govind Nair’s 3-36 saw him finish with Wells’ best bowling figures.
Jamie Hemphrey’s 5-45 meant the away response struggled to get going and, although Matthew Barker (40) and David Smith (37) did well, putting on 65 runs for the ninth-wicket stand, they were 177 all out in the 36th over.
Defending champions Hayes shot up to fifth with a four-wicket win at Minster, who came seventh.
James Thompson (31) top scored as the Sheppey side recovered from 46-5 to make 123 all out. William MacVicar did well for Hayes with figures of 3-16 from nine overs.
Hayes themselves were 47-5 at one stage, largely thanks to Bill Prideaux’s 3-31, until Tom Gallagher (29) top scored and Beau Couldrey guided them across the line in the 33rd over with an unbeaten 20.
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