Sandwich Town skipper Jan Gray described their Kent League Premier Division victory away to champions Hayes as their most complete performance so far this year.

Gray’s troops beat Hayes, who have surprisingly struggled to get going in the early stages of 2023, by eight wickets on Saturday.

“That’s the most complete that we have played this year,” Gray reflected.

“I think we have played pretty well in each game and showed lots of good cricket.

“We won a good toss because it was a bit damp and our seamers bowled beautifully.

“They were proper wickets as well - some caught at slip and no lucky ones, really.

“By the time we batted, it was more the pitch we expected.”

Alex Smith (3-27) and Rory Smith (3-21) did most of the work by Sandwich’s bowlers to restrict Hayes to 140 despite Kent’s Alex Blake top scoring with 55.

Gray said: “The statistics look good, but don’t quite show how well Alex Smith bowled.

“There was quite a big hill and Alex bowled 10 overs in a row against it.

“He had their batters in all sorts of trouble and, although Alex Blake got 50, even he had him in trouble.”

Wicketkeeper Ben Chapman, who plays football for Deal Town, then struck an unbeaten 65 in Sandwich’s successful reply to get them over the line with plenty left in the tank.

“He batted very positively but never took a chance,” said the Sandwich captain.

“His 65 not out was really lovely to watch.”

Town had also been due to host East Grinstead the following day in the Second Round of the ECB National Club Championship, only for the visitors to concede the game.

Gray noted: “On the one hand, it’s a real shame. These games are lovely to play in.

“But I think people were quite pleased not to have a Sunday playing because we have a Sunday game pretty much every weekend in June!

“So, fitness-wise, perhaps it’s good that we didn’t have a game.”

Sandwich, sitting fifth, host third-bottom Sevenoaks Vine this Saturday.

“It will be an interesting game,” Gray said.

“We seem to have quite weird games against Sevenoaks, I think we probably win one, lose one, every year.

“Usually, we win at home and they win at home but, last year, I think we reversed it.

“It’s a good game to play in. It’s quite difficult to tell how these games play out.”

Gray also spoke of his pleasure at seeing bowler Arafat Bhuiyan’s recent rise which has seen him go from playing club cricket in the same division to signing professional terms with Kent for the rest of the year.

He said: “Arafat has been one of those people who has been trialling pretty much everywhere around the South of England.

“I did that for a couple of years and I know a couple of others that did that.

“For some people, it never happens, so it’s very nice to see.”

Sandwich 2nds were skittled for 55 in a heavy home Division 3 defeat to Catford and Cyphers 1sts.

Alan Amos (4-59) was the pick of their bowlers as the visitors reached 272-8 from 50 overs but only Matthew Philpott (18 not out) and David Oliver (11) got to double figures in their dismal reply.