Kentish Express Ashford & District
Ton pair put game out of reach
Hundreds by Chris Vernon and Linden Lockhart led Tenterden to a convincing 143-run win over Sevenoaks Vine at Morghew Park on Saturday.
Vernon (128 not out) scored his second ton of the season and Lockhart (115) his first.
The second-wicket pair added 189 as the home side amassed 335-5 –their biggest total of the season – before dismissing relegation-threatened Vine for 192.
Vernon hit eight fours and five sixes in his 133-ball knock, while Lockhart faced only 92 deliveries with 12 fours and five sixes.
Tenterden skipper Ben Price again won the toss and batted.
The hosts reached 131-1 at the 25-over halfway mark, with 50 coming off the last five, as Lockhart enjoyed himself against the Vine spinners.
He went at 227-2, with Tom Richards – promoted in the order – out four runs later before Alistair Burge hit 26 off 27 balls, including two more sixes.
He and Tyler Griffin fell in quick succession but the runs continued to flow as Vernon went to his hundred with successive maximums. Tenterden moved past 300 as the big hitting continued, 100 coming off the last 10 overs, Vernon hitting the last ball of the innings out of the ground for another six.
Vine have struggled since being deducted 18 points from their opening win against Lordswood after fielding an ineligible player on the first day of the season in May.
The openers got to 59 before Ali Neale made a breakthrough, bowling skipper Jon Bowden for 36, on his way to 4-33.
Vernon, enjoying a good day with bat and ball, claimed the next two wickets, before Weller dismissed Oliver Howick.
The same bowler then yorked Oliver Durell, out for 66, with the total 165-5.
Neale sent back Lorne Burns at the same total – three Sevenoaks batsmen falling in the space of nine runs – before finishing the job, having last man Tom Parsons held by Vernon with a diving catch.
The victory and Blackheath’s defeat moves Tenterden up to fourth place, with two games left.
Tenterden 2nds profited from 35 extras, including 21 wides in a total of 261-9 as they beat Vine 2nds (200) by 61 runs.
Ben Daking made 78.