Kentish Express Ashford & District
Leaders make light work of early-season conquerors
Tevis Knight is looking to draw a line quickly under the 10-wicket Premier Division defeat at Hartley on Saturday.
The Tenterden skipper hailed the defending champions and favourites to lift their fourth title in five years “a class act” as they avenged a five-wicket defeat at Morghew Park on the second weekend of the season.
Knight won the toss and batted first only to see his side dismissed for only 106.
Hartley needed only 16 overs to complete victory, with James Hockley 67 not out.
Knight admitted: “We caught them on a good day.
“They bowled well, batted well and held their catches.
“The only positive was Andrew Crawford’s knock of 45, he has been unlucky with a few dismissals this season but did well.”
Tenterden stay third despite the defeat on a day of surprise results elsewhere as bottomside Dartford triumphed at Blackheath and Lordswood won at Beckenham.
Knight added: “We need to bounce back quickly and make sure we don’t make it three defeats in a row (at home to Blackheath) on Saturday.
“There is a little bit of pressure on us now but we need to stick to the basics and continue to enjoy our cricket.
“I said to the boys pre-match we are still third and probably the only side who are going to beat Hartley this season.
“Nobody expected us to go there and win, all the pressure was on them, and they completely outplayed us and are an absolutely class side.”
Youngster Will Edwards took 6-48 as leaders Tenterden 2nds continued their winning ways in Division 1 with a 72-run home victory over Holmesdale 2nds, to open up a 42-point lead at the top.
Slow left-armer Edwards, a Sutton Valence schoolboy, was playing his first game of the season after completing his studies.
Skipper Tim Russell hit 60 (including 10 fours), with another Valence boy, wicketkeeper Jamie Drewe, making 44 in Tenterden’s total of 242-9.
James Rand (3-31) took two of the first three wickets to fall, leaving the Sevenoaks villagers 19-3, before Edwards took over – quickly claiming the last three wickets.
‘We caught them on a good day’