Promotion chance fluffed
Kent County Village League
Marden missed their first chance to clinch promotion from Division 3, losing to bottom-side Knockholt. It appeared to be business as usual when Tom Aiken (3-23) and Jay Quensell (3-26) combined to bowl out the strugglers for 141. But Marden collapsed to 98 all out in reply, beaten by 43 runs. A promising start came to nothing in Bearsted’s Division 1 defeat by Penshurst Park. Richard Luxton (47) and Charlie Luxton (28) shared an opening stand of 64 but wickets fell regularly and Bearsted were all out for 172. Mark Sandhu struck early but Penshurst won by six wickets. Linton Park 2nds moved out of the Division 5 relegation zone with a 36-run victory over Penshurst Park 2nds. Linton closed on 185- 6 then Stuart Campbell took 4-34 as Penshurst were held to 149-9. West Farleigh raised Division 6 survival hopes, beating Speldhurst by 51 runs. Bill Norman hit 91 not out in a Farleigh total of 203-5. Jorden Godden and Ian Prideaux took four wickets each as Speldhurst were bowled out for 152, Farleigh now just two points adrift of safety. In Division 7, Mick Venner helped Marden 2nds to victory over Bidborough. He took 3-26 as Boro closed on 189-7, then top scored with 49 not out in a five-wicket success for second-placed Marden. Bearsted 2nds beat Cudham Wyse by nine wickets. Captain Tim Croom (55) top scored as Bearsted, in third, met a target of 138.