Poor start with bat sets the tone

Tenterden endured a disappointing day in a seven-wicket Premier Division defeat at Bexley on Saturday.

Put into bat, they never recovered from a poor start reduced to 11-3 at one stage before being dismissed for 102 – their lowest score of the season.

Adam Ball took two wickets in successive balls for Tenterden but that was as good as it got for the visitors, as Bexley eased home with more than half their overs to spare.

Tenterden’s third defeat in five games leaves them seventh. They are one of three clubs on 117 points, including Lordswood and defending champions Hartley, beaten for the seventh time this season by bottom club Holmesdale, who visit Morghew Park on Saturday.

Skipper Ben Price was first to go for a fourth-ball duck, with Leus du Plooy caught behind for one and Adam Ball (0), out second ball, soon following.

Chris Vernon made 17 before being fourth out with the score on 23, before Linden Lockhart and Andrew Crawford resisted for a time.

Lockhart faced 56 balls for his 30, including four fours, before being bowled (68-5), then Jamie Drewe was trapped leg before for one (75-6).

Crawford (23) fell to a catch behind (87-8), before Sam Weller was the third batsmen to fail to trouble the scorers, out one run later.

Ranjit Singh was run out for 10, with Tom Richards last man out for 1.

Openers Christopher Laas and Calum Basey gave Bexley a good start with a stand of 66.

Ball captured Basey (46 off 35 balls with nine fours) and Aryan Jain, but Laas (42 not out) stayed to finish things off.

Alistair Burge’s first hundred of the season helped Tenterden 2nds (251-8) to a two-wicket win over Bexley (248-8) in the reverse Premier 2nd Xl fixture.

Burge struck eight fours and seven sixes in his 84-ball 103, as the hosts won with nine balls to spare.

Picture: Paul Amos FM4850538 Ashford’s Jack Richardson looks for runs against Orpington during his innings of 35