Marriott calls for break
Division 2
Mote captain James Marriott feels the Kent League should consider introducing a midseason break.
The Mote, like many clubs, have players on holiday, making selection tricky.
He said: “It always seems to be this time of year, early August, when everyone goes on holiday. “It felt like a funny week for cricket.
“Maybe the league should introduce a mid-season break, if possible.
“I’d like to put that to them. There’s a few things I want to bring up, things we could try to reinvigorate cricket in Kent. “T20 is another thing. That’s the future of the game but we don’t embrace it enough.
“We have one competition, on a weekday night, and you’re batting in pitch-black in the second part.
“A regionalised T20 league would enable teams to get fullstrength sides and help the standard of cricket.
“I don’t want to talk negatively about the league but this is something that should already be in place.”
The Mote were understrength in their 18-run defeat by Chestfield on Saturday but it was a game they should still have won.
Opener Ben Carpenter-Friend scored 106 as Chestfield closed 50 overs on 233-9, Matt Luksich taking 3-50.
Chris Back (55) and Marriott (49) top-scored in reply but The Mote fell short on 215-7. Marriott said: “It was a flat road, a short boundary and a quick outfield so we were happy tokeepthemtofiveanover.We had a couple of dropped catches but nothing too sad.
“The bottom line is when you’ve got six wickets in hand with 10 overs left and you need 60 runs, you’ve got to win that game, and we didn’t do it.
“Any successful side would have won and I told the boys that afterwards.”
The Mote dropped to fifth but are still only 19 points off secondplaced Ashford with four games left.
Marriott said: “Every time we lose, Ashford seem to lose as well, so we’re still in the mix.
“You start to think, ‘right, that’s it for this season, let’s get some of the youngsters in and plan for the next two or three years’, and then you see the others results and we’ve still got a chance of going up.”
Fabian Cowdrey scored his fourth century this summer as leaders Minster beat Old Wilsonians by 19 runs. He finished on 117 not out off 164 balls, including 10 fours, as Minster closed on 254-8. Matthew Golding followed bowling figures of 3-50 by hitting 104, a knock featuring seven fours and a six.
That kept Wilsonians in the hunt but he was the last man out, falling to James White, with the hosts dismissed for 235. Minster captain George Duggan said: “A few of the lads commented that it was the best game they’ve played in this season.
“One of their lads batted really well but credit to our lads, we were missing three of our better bowlers but those that we brought in showed they could handle it.
“It’s good to see that we can rely on others when needed.” Ashford remain second despite losing to OD CUACO by 44 runs. Phil Woodger (2-37) took an early wicket and Ben Allon finished with 3-35 as CUACO were bowled out for 206. Ashford were on course for victory with Liam Tegg (48) and Simon Taylor (40) sharing 70 for the opening wicket. But the rest of the line-up, bar tail-ender Jack Richardson (25 not out) failed to fire as Town slipped to 162 all out.
Sidcup moved up to fourth after beating Dartford by four wickets. Daniel Corbett (4-36) was the key bowler as Dartford were held to 206-9, a total boosted by 50 not out from No.10 Harry Cullingham.
Isaac Raj took 4-69 but Sidcup won with almost 15 overs left. The bottom two met at the Belmont where Whitstable lost to Orpington by 24 runs. The hosts – winless at the foot of the table – were in contention at tea after bowling out their opponents for 201.
David Robinson made 43 for Orpington while Harry Legg (3-15), Jake Guinan (2-21) and James Loader (2-30) bowled well. Guinan (4) fell early in reply but Aaron Garvey (41), Hamish Wilde (33) and Harrison Legg (31) kept them in the game. However, with Dominic Grover and Ben Clarkson taking three wickets apiece, Whitstable were bowled out for 177.