Prajapat’s blast proves in vain
Kent County Village League
retirements and long-term injuries, it wasn’t appropriate to play at that level.
“It wasn’t fair on the juniors to put them into such an aggressive form of cricket.
“We wanted to give them the chance to flourish at their natural level, so we made the decision to drop down to the Kent County Village League which we think is a much nicer type of cricket.
“We’ve come down a long way and we appreciate that. If we’re honest, we’re too strong for the division we’re in but it does mean we can give young players a chance to perform.
“We have young lads enjoying their cricket playing at a standard they can cope with. It’s brought the fun back to the game.
“My primary concern is to keep cricket going.
“I want players to enjoy it. You can’t force people to play. You want to make it fun so people enjoy it and want to play.”
Hollingbourne’s latest victory – their eighth in nine games – came against Withyham by 110 runs.
Gutteridge (34 not out) top-
KENT LEAGUE 1st XI, Premier Division: Blackheath v Hartley, Holmesdale v Sandwich Town, Lordswood v Sevenoaks Vine, Tenterden v Beckenham, Tunbridge Wells v Bexley. Division 1: Bickley Park v Bromley Common, Dartford v Canterbury, Hayes v HSBC, The Mote v Bromley, Whitstable v Linden Park. Division 3: Bexleyheath v Old Elthamians, Catford Wanderers v Catford and Cyphers, Harvel v Sidcup, Orpington v Hythe. Division 4: Downham & Bellingham v Addington Village, Minster v OD CUACO, Old Colfeians v Old Williamsonians, Rainham v Offham, Tonbridge v Cowdrey. 2nd XI, Premier Division: Beckenham v Tenterden, Bexley v Tunbridge Wells, Hartley v Dartford, Sandwich Town v Folkestone, Sevenoaks Vine v Whitstable. Division 1: Bromley v The Mote, Bromley Common v Orpington, Canterbury v Blackheath, Linden Park v Lordswood. Division 4: Addington Village v Catford Wanderers, Bexley 4ths v Blackheath Wanderers, Chislehurst & West Kent v Frindsbury, OD CUACO v Chestfield.
KENT REGIONAL LEAGUE Premier Division: Blackheath Wanderers v Bexley 3rds, Mersham Sports v Rodmersham, RACS v Bromley Town, Staplehurst v The Roebucks, Wickham Park v Kings Hill. scored in a total of 186 all out, then Dan Pritchard took 3-5 as the visitors were bowled out for 76.
Gutteridge said: “We’re up against teams we’ve historically played over 20, 30, 40 years, much more villageorientated sides. It’s more rural cricket whereas last year it was more metropolitan.
“We were travelling to south London every other week, which is fine, but for a village side like ourselves, it’s much nicer to play other villages. It’s where cricket started and where it hopefully carries on.” Championship West: Beckenham 3rds v Dartford 3rds, Bexley Park v Simba, Gravesend 3rds v Tunbridge Wells 3rds, RASRA Eagles v Pembury, Shooters Hill v Horton Kirby. Championship East: Borstal v St Margaret’s, Boughton & Eastwell v Nelson, Holcombe & Blue Bell Hill v Littlebourne, Milstead v Ash, Sandwich Town 3rds v Cobham. 1A Central: Hunton Wanderers v Holborough Anchorians, Sheldwich v Bobbing Court and Lower Halstow, Sheppey v The Mote 3rds, Sherwood v Headcorn. 1A West: Belvedere v Gravesend, Hartley 3rds v Southfleet, LESSA Christ Church v New Ash Green, Leybourne v Oakfield Warriors. 2A West: Bexleyheath 3rds v Hayes 4ths, Bromley Common 3rds v New Ifield, Dartford 4ths v Snodland Community, Old Wilsonians 3rds v Bromley 4ths, Sidcup 3rds v Dartfordians 2nds. 2A East: Betteshanger Colliery Welfare 2nds v Walmer 2nds, East Langdon v Sherwood 2nds, Littlebourne 2nds v Holcombe & Blue Bell Hill 2nds, Old Williamsonians 2nds v Leeds & Broomfield 2nds, Westgate-On-Sea 2nds v Borstal 2nds. 2B Central: Hartley Country Club 5ths v Frindsbury 3rds, Holborough Anchorians 2nds v Gravesend 4ths, Minster 3rds v Sherwood 3rds, Rainham 3rds v Milstead 2nds. 2C Central: Gravesend 2nds v Yalding, Bearsted lost to fellow strugglers Plaxtol by 38 runs at the foot of Division 1. Plaxtol closed 40 overs on 236- 8, Mark Sandhu with 3- 63. A poor start to the reply left Bearsted in trouble but Steve Pearce offered hope, hitting 46 off 37 balls. Sidharth Prajapat went on to hit 41 from 21 deliveries coming in at No.9, but Bearsted were all out for 198. Second-bottom Linton Park suffered a five-wicket defeat at Meopham. Park closed on 155-9 thanks to Josh Knowler (41 not out) and Kevin Presneill (40). Matt Carter removed opener David Pollard for a duck but Meopham recovered, despite 3-33 from Richard Knowler. Marden moved off the foot of Division 2 with a six-run victory over Leigh. Useful knocks from Tom Bonney (37) and Alex Newport (36) set up a total of 214. Sam Courtley and Alex Richardson took three wickets each as Leigh were held to 208-8. Young Tobey Castle made a halfcentury for Linton Park 2nds in a Division 5 defeat by Meopham. He hit six fours in a knock of 52 as Park were bowled out for 148 in reply to 187- 6, beaten by 39 runs. West Farleigh beat Kilndown & Farningham by 186 runs in Division 6. Andrew Salmon (78 not out) and Bill Norman (50) saw Farleigh to 237- 6. Tom Williams took 4-16 and Paul Baines 3-3 as Kilndown were bowled out for just 51. Simon Barker hit out in Bearsted 2nds’ Division 7 win at Shoreham. His 81 included 10 fours and two sixes and helped Bears win by eight wickets after Shoreham had closed on 210- 6. Skipper Tim Croom also hit 10 fours in a knock of 50. Headcorn 2nds v Upchurch 4ths, Holmesdale 3rds v Sheppey 2nds, Kings Hill 2nds v Hunton Wanderers 2nds, New Ash Green 2nds v Lordswood 4ths.
KENT COUNTY VILLAGE LEAGUE Division 1: Bidborough v Penshurst Park, Four Elms v Linton Park, Meopham v Horsmonden, Shipbourne v Bearsted, Sissinghurst v Plaxtol. Division 2: Cudham Wyse v Locksbottom, Leigh v Ightham, Outwood v Shoreham, Speldhurst v Marden Withyham v Flimwell. Division 3: Groombridge v Southborough, Hadlow v Underriver, Horsmonden 2nds v Eynsford, Limpsfield Chart v Farningham, Stonewall Park v Otford. Division 4: Chiddingstone v Shipbourne 2nds, Halstead v Sennocke, Knockholt v Bidborough 2nds, Luddesdowne v Kemsing, Weald v St Lawrence. Division 5: Betsham v Fordcombe, Chevening Amblers v Meopham 2nds, Linton Park 2nds v Four Elms 2nds, Locksbottom 2nds v Sissinghurst 2nds, Plaxtol 2nds v Limpsfield Chart 2nds. Division 6: Farningham 2nds v Cudham Wyse 2nds, Kilndown & Lamberhurst v Leigh 2nds, Marden 2nd v Horsmonden 3rds, Penshurst Park 2nds v Outwood 2nds, Southborough 2nds v West Farleigh. Division 7: Bearsted 2nds v Bidborough 3rds, Eynsford 2nds v Speldhurst 2nds, Hollingbourne v Hadlow 2nds, Otford 2nds v Cudham Wyse 3rds, Shoreham 2nds v Withyham 2nds.
KENT VILLAGE CRICKET LEAGUE Division 1: Bapchild v Street End, Leeds & Broomfield v Elham Valley, Littlebourne v Woodchurch, Selling v Sheldwich, Stone-in-Oxney v Harbledown, Wingham v Egerton, Wye v Ash. Division 2: Harvel v Linton Park, Selsted v Borstal, Stowting v Mersham Le Hatch, Tyler Hill v Leybourne, Worth v Challock. Division 3: Bredgar v Great Chart, Holcombe & Blue Bell Hill v Hunton Wanderers, Pluckley v Frindsbury, Saltwood v Addington Village, Staplehurst v Charing, Upchurch v Bearsted. Division 4: Borden v Eastchurch, Brookland v Wingham 2nds, High Halstow v Harrietsham, Horton Kirby v Mersham Sports, Kings Hill v Town Malling, Kingsnorth v Teston, Norton Sports v New Ifield. Division 5: Boughton-under-Blean v Bilsington, Great Chart 2nds v Chestfield, Harbledown 2nds v Stockbury, Holborough Anchorians v Littlebourne 2nds, Rolvenden v Exiles at Stelling Minnis, St Nicholas and Sarre v Little Chart, Woodcoombe v Hythe Green. Division 6: Borstal 2nds v Sturry, Kennington v Horton Kirby 2nds, Linton Park 2nds v Bobbing Court and Lower Halstow, Rainham v Pett, Sherwood v Frittenden.