Kentish Express Ashford & District
Skipper holds nerve to secure valuable victory
Ashford Town
Luke Reeves scored his second successive half century and pulled off one of the catches of the season as bottom side Ashford Town completed a three- wicket win over third-placed Old Wilsonians in Shepherd Neame Kent League, Division 3 at Stacians Park on Saturday.
It was a timely victory on a day when fellow strugglers Hythe and Old Elthamians also both won but not before Town made life difficult for themselves.
Needing only 151 to win, they slumped from 107-1 to 139-7 before skipper Sam Kennett struck successive fours to see them home.
Kennett said: “We never do things easy and the middle-order just collapsed.
“I was pleased to finish the job myself because I didn’t want to get out and then have to watch.
“We have got another tough one against Old Colfeians this weekend but hopefully this result will boost our confidence.”
Reeves hit 68, adding 76 with Darren Bailey (25) for the first wicket.
Peter Shields ( 13) was second out and his dismissal sparked a flurry of wickets as Town lost five for 32, before Kennett completed the victory.
He added: “Luke batted well again. He was dropped a couple of times early on and made them pay.
“The catch he took was one of the most fantastic I have ever seen, diving away to his left at mid-wicket, holding it one handed on his weaker side.” Four Ashford bowlers claimed two wickets each, ensuring Wilsonians’ innings never got going before a ninth- wicket stand of 30 boosted their total to 150.
Town stay bottom, nine points behind Hythe and 13 adrift of OE’s with seven games left. The 2nds won by five wickets at Frindsbury in Division 5.
Robert Banks scored his second hundred in successive weeks as Wye 2nds beat Macknade 2nds by 42 runs in Division 4
He followed up his unbeaten 121 against Rodmersham with 100 not out in a total of 209-7.
Ian Lewis then took 5-50 as the Faversham side were dismissed for 167.