Graham sets up vital win

Division 1

Folkestone remain in the hunt for promotion after a 37-run victory over Hayes. Stuart Graham top scored for the third-placed team, hitting 77 off 107 balls, as Folkestone posted 249-9 off 50 overs.

In reply, both of Hayes’ openers were dismissed for single figures.

James Babmer departed for nought, run out by Nick Ward, and the same player caught Finlay Baker for six off the bowling of Chris Jay. Hayes were eventually all out for 212.

A 171-run opening-wicket partnership between Sam Smith (96) and Richard Selvey-Clinton (73) put leaders Bromley on course for victory over Bromley Common, successfully chasing down 213-5.

Oliver Hickford was unbeaten on 75 for Common. Broadstairs suffered a narrow defeat to secondplaced Holmesdale. A half-century by Elliot Fox (53) and a knock of 76 from Matthew Hardy saw them get agonisingly close to Holmesdale’s 247-8 – losing the match by just four runs. Holmesdale had been indebted to the batting of Luke Blackaby (116).

Michael Hales Jnr hit 18 fours and two sixes in his

156 for struggling Upchurch during their abandoned game against St Lawrence & Highland Court.

An hour and a half was lost as the two teams waited for an ambulance to take away an injured St Lawrence player.

The impressive performance from Hales Jnr – his best Kent League score – left Upchurch defending 244. Harry Mawson (3-16) took three early wickets to help reduce St Lawrence to 36-4 at one stage. However, a halfcentury from Justin Watson (56) helped steady the ship and the hosts reached the relative safety of 130-6 off 36 overs.

It left Upchurch with 12 points from the game and eight points now separate themselves and safety. Broadstairs are 16 points adrift at the bottom.

Sitting just above those two teams are Tenterden and they extended the gap slightly thanks to a onewicket victory over Linden Park.

In a match reduced to 35 overs, Park batted first and were all out for 139.

With just five balls and one wicket left, Tenterden (1409) got a much-needed win to keep themselves out of the bottom two.