Kentish Express Ashford & District
Freak day over quickly
Kent Village League
Skipper Kevin Kent described it as a bad day at the office after Challock were routed for only 24 in a 10-wicket home Division 2 defeat by Linton Park on Sunday. He said: “It was an almighty collapse and down to exceptionally poor batting. One of our opening batsmen turned up late and I had to open but it was just a procession and one of those freak days – we were abysmal.” The club did beat their worst score in the club’s KVL history – 10 against Stockbury in 2002 – a match Kent also played in. Elsewhere, Matthew Dance ran through Selling (118) to claim 6-20 as Dymchurch (141-9) won by 23 runs. Darren Wolfe top scored with 40. Jonathan Durrand-Wood’s 4-20 helped Woodchurch reduce hosts Leybourne to 128-9 on their way to a 66-run win. Mike Jessupp (49) and Ryan Bennett (47) were the main scorers in the visitors’ 194-7. Wye kept up their promotion push in Division 2 with a last-over victory at Mersham Le Hatch. Chasing 197 to win, Wye crossed the line with five balls left. Joe Elgar’s 56 set up the win after 22 from Steve Knighton, who had earlier taken four wickets and Matt Leclere (22) shared a 65-run opening stand. Rob Sparks hit 79 and claimed 4-20 as Egerton beat Leeds & Broomfield by 134 runs on Sunday. They bounced back from their heavy Division 1 defeat against Littlebourne the week before to total 295-6 in their 40 overs, Luke Mangold making 59. The Maidstone villagers lost exKent man Martin McCague early on but son Monte top scored with 53 in their 161 all-out. Stone-in-Oxney (147-9) lost by seven wickets at Ash (148-3), while Great Chart (127) went down by 40 runs at home to Bapchild (167). Ryan Green’s unbeaten 53 off 62 balls, including 10 fours, eased Stowting (124-2) to an eight-wicket win in Division 3 at home to Holcombe & Blue Bell Hill. Jon Hill and Clifford Ball claimed three wickets each, Stuart Graham chipping in with 2-5 in the Medway side’s 121. Tyron Beech made 72 notout as 10-man Aldington (180-8) lost by 68 runs at Frindsbury (248-4). Brookland (110-7) lost by 161 runs at Borstal (271-7). In Division 4, Katie Jordan and Dave Fagg shared six wickets as Mersham Sports reduced to Charing to 152-8 for a 52-run win. Keeper John Southern followed up his 70 in Sports’ 204-8 to claim five victims, including three stumpings. Jon Hughes took 8-37 for Kingsnorth in their nine-wicket win at home to Exiles at Stelling Minnis. The visitors were dismissed for 156. Syed Muazam Ali’s undefeated 67, steered the home side to victory. Ivan Baker made 88 as Great Chart 2nds (207-4) beat Little Chart (155-8 - Harrison Pack 51) in Division 5. Rolvenden (88) went down by 45 runs at Eastchurch, while Bilsington could only make 67, losing by 187 runs at High Halstow (254-8). In Division 6, James Isles (91) and Bradlee Sharpre (71) shared an opening stand of 121, as Kennington (231-6) beat Horton Kirby (121-7) by 110 runs.