Kentish Express Ashford & District
Singh shows new boys no mercy
Tenterden
Tenterden condemned Holmesdale to a return to Division 1 after one season following their 71-run win at Morghew Park.
The visitors could still be joined by neighbours Sevenoaks Vine, who arrive at Morghew Park this weekend, second bottom, despite their one-wicket win at leaders Bexley on Saturday.
Dale’s relegation was one of the first issues resolved at the weekend, while Vine have struggled since having 18 points deducted from their opening day win against Vine, for fielding an ineligible player.
Chris Vernon hit 85 and Adam Ball 63 in Tenterden’s 246-9, after skipper Ben Price had won the toss and batted first.
Dale were dismissed for 175 in only 37 overs, left-arm spinner Ranjit Singh finishing with club best figures of 5-35, as the visitors slipped to their 13th defeat.
Tenterden reached 107-2 at halfway, with Price (12) and Linden Lockhart (6) the men out before Vernon and Ball added 88 for the third wicket.
The partnership ended when Vernon fell with the total 144, Ball making 63 (five fours and a six off 74 balls) before he went at 207-5. That sparked a flurry of wickets, Tenterden losing four quickly before last man Sam Weller (13 not out) joined Alistair Burge (32 not out off 23 balls) to add 30 at the end.
Singh made the early breakthrough for the hosts, before he and Ali Neale engineered a mid-innings Holmesdale collapse.
The visitors were reduced to 98-7 before Anthony Blissett prolonged the contest with 56 off 51 balls. He was last man out to a catch by Neale off Tom Richards.
Jamie Drewe’s unbeaten 53 helped Tenterden 2nds (128-5) beat Folkestone (125, Sam Jones 4-31) by five wickets.