Richards burst rocks champions

Tenterden

A burst of 4-11 by Tom Richards put the skids under champions Hartley as Tenterden won by 27 runs to record their first Kent League, Premier Division win of the season. The 21-year-old seamer struck early to set up the victory. Hartley, who had won both their opening matches were dismissed for only 125, having been set 153 to win in a match reduced to 30 overs-a-side after rain delayed the start for two and half hours until 2.30pm. Richards sent back James Hockley (1), before removing overseas player Dominic Hendricks, Richard SelveyClinton and James Thompson, the latter two in successive deliveries. Jamie Bristow-Diamond then dismissed Daniel Stickels (11) to leave the home side 23-5. Jake Benfield countered Tenterden’s dominance with 46 off 37 balls (four fours and four sixes), adding 66 with Ian McLean (18) before Leus du Plooy and Ali Neale accounted for both at the same score. Neale claimed the wicket of James Cramp and Daniel Redwood to finish with 3-24, with James Green hitting three fours in his unbeaten 19, before du Plooy trapped him leg before wicket to win the game. Tenterden had struggled themselves after being put in, getting to 27 before Chris Vernon (17), du Plooy first ball and Linden Lockhart for a fifth-ball duck all fell to Redwood in the space of 16 runs, with Ben Price then leg before wicket to Hockley, fourth out at 53. Andrew Crawford faced 49 balls for his 22, bowled by ex-Kent man Hockley but Tyler Griffin (31 off 34 balls, with two fours and two sixes), and Neale (30 off 25 with five fours) prolonged the innings, before the latter fell to the last ball of the innings as Tenterden finished on 152-9. Tenterden’s 2nd XI home game against Hartley was abandoned without a ball bowled after rain got under the covers at Morghew Park. The club’s new 3rd team are still waiting to make their Kent Regional League debut, with the game at Exiles at Stelling Minnis also washed out.

Tom Richards – took 4-11 against Hartley