Kentish Express Ashford & District
Another Graham ton not enough for a win
Kent Regional League
Stuart Graham continued his personal run-fest with a second successive hundred – but still finished on the losing side.
The prolific Stowting batsman hit his ninth ton of the season in all cricket – 125 out of a total of 200 in the 2B East contest at St Margaret’s 2nds.
The Dover villagers replied with 203-6 to win by four wickets with as many balls to spare.
Stowting’s third defeat of the season sees them now level on points (142) at the top of the table with Street End.
Mersham Sports claimed their second victory of the season – a comprehensive eight-wicket home win over Rodmersham. Alan Stevens (4-32) and three wickets each for Matthew and Dave Fagg put the Premier Division’s bottom side in control, reducing the visitors to 113 all out.
Daniel Harman (38 not out) then led the reply, Mersham’s victory closing the gap on Wickham Park to four points.
Boughton & Eastwell’s struggles in Championship East continued with a 62-run defeat against Margate-based Nelson.
Set 234 to win, B&E lost six wickets for 41 runs, with Isaac Carney (38), Chris Wills (25) and Joey Griffiths (18 not out) the only three players to reach double figures in a total of 171, boosted by 22 extras.
Wye’s Matt Barnes (4-14) and Daniel Noden (4-15) shared the bowling honours in the 119-run 1A East win over Ramsgate Corinthians.
Barnes claimed both openers for ducks, Shannon’s two-wicket burst then reduced the Thanet side to 5-4 at one stage before being all out for 92.
Openers Stuart Wise (50) and Barnes (22) put on 80 for the first wicket, before Wye suffered a blip themselves, slipping to 92-5.
Daniel Jones rescued things, hitting 11 fours and a six in his 63. He and Keith Secrett (17 not out) carrying them home on 211-9.
Leaders Saltwood (133-7) stay top after a three-wicket win at Margate (132-9, Ian Oakes 4-14)
Kennington suffered a last-over defeat, losing by four wickets at home to Selsted.
Aggressive knocks by Dan Matcham (54) and Stuart Green (42) saw the visitors home with four balls to spare.
Jon Ghaemian (71 not out) and Ian Hughes (57) both hit 10 fours in Kennington’s total of 211-6.
Opener Matt Statham made 88 not out but it wasn’t enough, as Willesborough (188-7) finished 12 runs short at 1B East leaders Sturry (200, Abdul Malik 6-38).
Bradlee Sharpe hit a career-best 118, – his second hundred in four matches – as Mersham Sports 2nds (193-2) won by eight wickets at Folkestone 3rds.
Jack Price finished 66 not out to lead Ashford Town 3rds (151-8) home by two wickets at Exiles at Stelling Minnis (150) in 1C East.