Campbell’s joy

Kent League

Canterbury skipper Max Campbell was thrilled to put one over on bogey-side Hayes and consolidate their place atop Kent League Division 1.

The visitors were ousted for just 182 at Polo Farm and though the reply was interrupted by the rain, Campbell and Sam Burt steered their side to a six-wicket win.

Campbell made a patient 74 with five fours and two sixes but Burt cracked nine fours and cleared the rope twice in his 75 from 88 to guide the hosts from 48- 4 to victory with an unbroken stand of 138.

Campbell – the third highest run scorer in the league – said: “Hayes beat us twice last year and are something of a bogey club for us.

“I was happy to lose the toss to be honest and we started really well and Justin Macvicar and Alex Christie each got a wicket in their first over and then we shared it around (with seven bowlers claiming wickets).

“We were in the driving seat and really should have had them out for 120 at half-time I still felt good because before the start we’d have taken anything under 250.”

He added: “I was very surprised by how well they fielded and bowled.

“It was the best we have faced this season. We were four down before too long and I was start- ing to worry, but Sam was the perfect player to come out, he’s left-handed and they never quite adjusted and he played really well.”

Campbell revealed: “Next thing I know I look over the trees and there’s a storm coming.

“We got our foot down but we still needed 37 runs when we went off and we didn’t think we’d get back to be honest.

“When we did though we had eight overs to get them and we never looked back.”

Canterbury host fourth placed the Mote on Saturday and Campbell added: “It will be another big game, like us they have a game in hand on second and third, but the table is looking good for us.”

Whitstable had to settle for seven points after their game at Linden Park in the same division was washed-out.

Harry Bea claimed 2-31 but the hosts were 209- 4 from 45 overs when the rain arrived.

Andrew Henderson claimed 5-19 to inspire St Lawrence & Highland Court to a thumping nine wicket win against Hythe in Division 2.

Thomas Bailey added 3- 46 as the visitors were bowled out for 157 and though Alex Cotter departed for a fourth-ball duck without a run on the board in reply Matthew Hammond cracked 73 from 53 balls and shared an unbroken 158 with James Widerstrom (83 from 57) to guide their side home in 19 overs before the rain arrived.

Dom Chambers’ century was in vain for Chestfield as they were frustrated by the rain at home to Orpington in Division 3.

Chambers cracked 110, Jago Pearson notched 53 and Arron Bennett a late 54 not out as the hosts amassed 257-7 from their 40 overs.

Dan Patching them claimed a superb 5-56 and Bennett added 2-31 to leave the visitors reeling, eight down and needing 90 runs to win, only for the rain to arrive and the game to finish incomplete.

Faversham were another side thwarted by torrential rain which arrived at their game at Rainham in Division 5 at 4.40pm.

Chris Streatfield’s 4-57 and three catches by wicket-keeper Andrew Parker were the highlights for the visitors as the hosts posted 229, being dismissed in the last of their 50 overs.

Faversham only managed six overs of the reply, scoring 20 runs, and had to settle for nine points from the abandonment.