Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Derby win will kickstart
Kent League
Jake Guinan hopes the confidence Whitstable can take from thrashing rivals Canterbury will fire them up the Kent League Division 1 table.
The visitors inflicted a 140-run hammering on the table-topping city club at Polo Farm and are now within a point of safety at the foot of the table.
Guinan admitted: “To go and beat a team like Canterbury, and in that manner will give us plenty of confidence. Hopefully we can really kick-on from here.”
Whitstable were indebted largely to Kai Appleby who piled on the runs late-on to finish with a superb unbeaten 108 from just 90 balls, featuring eight fours Tand five sixes.
Opener Dean Lewis (53) had laid a solid foundation and debutant overseas Chris Carter (56) gave Appleby ample support as the visitors posted an imposing 274-5.
Guinan said: “It was a massive score and put real pressure on them. We’d normally consider 200220 as a good score on a big ground like that.
“We made a good start – other than me getting out so early – but it was a perfect time for Kai to put together a score like that and I think batting alongside Chris really helped him.”
In reply, 17-year-old seamer Todd Jordan – who Guinan only called up from the 2nds due to an injury to Sean French – tore through the top order leaving the city club 21-3.
Ed Govier’s 30 batting at six was as good as it got for Canterbury as they could only manage one partnership of more than 25 to fall to 87- 6 and eventually 134 all-out.
Guinan said: “Todd ripped through them at the top and showed exactly what he can do. Unfortunately he’s not available this week, but with Sean coming back we’ll be raring to go against (fourth-bottom) Gore Court.”
Alex Cotter was the hero for St Lawrence & Highland Court as they enjoyed an 80-run win at home to promotion rivals Bromley Common in Division 2.
Cotter cracked 111, with 13 fours and a six, adding his second 50 from just 46 balls, and shared a 172-run stand for the second wicket with Charlie Macleod, who hit 72.
he hosts eventually posted 2777 from their 50 overs but the visitors never got close in reply with James Widerstrom claiming 3-20 and Dylan Emmett 3- 42 as the final eight wickets fell for the addition of just 63 runs.
Saints are second, four points behind leaders Bickley Park and 25 points clear of third-placed Upchurch in the race for promotion with Bromley a further point back in fourth.
Chestfield are only 10 points outside the top-two in Division 3 after a fine five-wicket win at home to promotion-chasing Leeds & Broomfield.
Dan Patching claimed 4- 60 and Dylan Hunter 3- 49 as the visitors were bowled out for 225 in the final over and the same pair were key to Chestfield reaching their target with seven overs to spare.
Patching hit 57 and Hunter an unbeaten 65 while Arron Bennett weighed-in with a late 63 to guide the hosts home.
Faversham saw their Division 5 game at Tonbridge abandoned just 21 overs in.