Minster made a winning start to their Kent Cricket League Premier Division campaign on Saturday.

Captain David Masters admitted they could have made it easier for themselves against Blackheath, but was pleased to get a first win on the board, after chasing down 165.

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James Thompson (44 not out) helped guide them to a four-wicket win as Dan Stickels (43) and Quinn Sunde (41) both added valuable runs.

Masters said: “We should have probably made it a little easier than what it was, knocked it off a little quicker but it’s a winning start. It’s the first game of the season, people are a little bit tentative.

“Sometimes those little totals can be tricky, we lost a couple of early wickets, myself and young Akhil (Venugopalan). It did a little bit early on with the new ball, which it does at this time of year, but we were confident chasing that down.”

Blackheath opted to bat but Minster made an early breakthrough. James Speer dismissed opener Jas Bassan for a four-ball duck.

Wickets came in clusters for Minster and Kai Appleby took an impressive 4-15.

The Minster openers were quick to depart, with Blackheath possibly fancying themselves at 7-2, but Stickles and Sunde turned the tide back in the island side’s favour. Haider Zaidi (14 not out) and Thompson clinched the win in the 48th over.

Minster added some younger players to the XI on Sunday in the ECB National Club Championship match where they beat St Lawrence & Highland Court by 78 runs.

Appleby hit 52 off 50 balls to help Minster to a total of 211. Zaidi was 34 not out and returned with the ball to take 5-25 as the Saints were bowled out for 133. Thompson picked up 4-20.

This Saturday, Minster host Bexley at Gilbert Hall (12pm).

Bexley beat Hayes by six wickets after successfully chasing down 193 in their opener.

Masters said: “We’re back at home but they’re a tough side, they are always one of the stronger ones and will be there or thereabouts at the end of the season. We have to be right on it.”