Kentish Express Ashford & District
Batting effort in vain as Town go bottom
Ashford Town
Ashford Town’s highest total of the season still wasn’t enough to avoid a five-wicket Shepherd Neame Kent League Division 3 defeat against Holmesdale on a sweltering afternoon at Montreal Park in Sevenoaks on Saturday.
Luke Reeves hit 76 in a total of 2278, but two big stands, for the first and fourth wickets respectively, helped the home side home with seven balls to spare.
The defeat takes Town bottom again, nine points behind Hythe, surprise four-wicket winners at second-placed Old Colfeians.
Reeves passed 50 for third time this season, but Town’s innings was hampered by losing two wickets at the same score three times.
He shared an opening stand of 109 with Simon Taylor before the latter was bowled for 39. Darren Bailey then followed without scoring, before Reeves and Fraser Harrison – run out for 16 – both went at 132.
Peter Shields (15) and skipper Sam Kennett, followed at 159, Ashley Cook (43, including two big sixes) and Steve Tanner (24 not out) guided the visitors past 200.
Oliver Jones (57) and Holmesdale skipper Mark Epps (43) gave the home side a solid start adding 91, before Taylor (3-51) made the breakthrough. Ashford claimed three more scalps, but Rupert Harbig (47) and David Roffey (57 not out) blunted hopes of further success, avenging a 47-run defeat on the opening day of the season.
Skipper Neil Tegg carried his bat to make 112 not out as Town 2nds beat Bromley Town by 99 runs at Stacians Park.
Tegg called a halt on 232-5, declaring with one over to spare, before bowling the visitors out for 133. Darren Cooper and Andrew Harcourt claimed three wickets each.
Robert Banks made an unbeaten 121 as Wye 2nds drew at Rodmersham in Division 4. He hit 19 fours and a six in his 144-ball knock as the visitors, needing 276 to win, finished on 216-4.