Kentish Express Ashford & District
Hill and Ball combination sees Stowting home – just
Kent Regional League
Strong bowling spells from Jon Hill and Clifford Ball saw Stowting secure a one-run victory in a tight 1B East game at Sturry 1sts.
Stowting elected to bat after winning the toss and reached 105-8. Three Jacksons starred with the bat. Captain Mark Jackson (22), wicketkeeper David Jackson (33 not out) and Mick Jackson (27) held together Stowting’s innings.
The hosts made a few promising starts in their innings but Hill (4-17) and Ball (3-17) took the final six wickets between them and Sturry were bowled out just one run short of Stowting’s total.
In the 1A East derby between Kennington and Wye, it was the latter who came out with the bragging rights.
Visitors Kennington made 92 all out with only Joe Jolly (35) and Chris Drakeley (31) making double figures.
Mark Shannon, Stuart Wise and James Chamberlain took three wickets apiece, while wicketkeeper Raj Mahadevaiah took four catches.
In reply, the hosts were disrupted by Kennington’s Jeremy Grove, who took 4-29. But Matt Leclere (47 not out) and James Chamberlain (19 not out) saw Wye reach the target after 28 overs.
Boughton & Eastwell maintained their promotion charge with an eightwicket win at home to Canterbury 3rds. Canterbury were put in to bat by the hosts and were skittled for just 52 runs. Simon Aylott and Andrew Carney both took 3-15.
It took Boughton & Eastwell just 10 overs and one wicket to reach Canterbury’s total with openers Isaac Carney (17) and Ed Miller (26 not out) securing the 20 points.
In 2B East, Willesborough won at Whitstable 3rds to cement their position at the top of the table.
Captain Callum Stuckey took three wickets, while Shaheer Malik, Vishal Sajikumar and Lewis Back all took catches off their own bowling as Whitstable were dismissed for 97.
The leaders secured an eight-wicket win with Sajikumar (63 not out) leading the way.
Mersham 2nds lost at Walmer after the hosts posted 292-2. Walmer managed to restrict Mersham to 190-6 with James Foot scoring 50 not out.
Elsewhere, Boughton & Eastwell 2nds (107 all out) were unable to restrict Littlebourne 3rds, who won by seven wickets in 1C East.
Mersham 1sts and Kennington 2nds had their matches against Blackheath Wanderers and Herne Bay respectively, abandoned without a ball being bowled.