Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Surprise defeat stuns leaders
CANTERBURY SEE THEIR ADVANTAGE AT THE TOP TRIMMED AHEAD OF CRUCIAL HOME SHOWDOWN WITH PROMOTION RIVALS Kent League
Canterbury suffered a surprise six-wicket defeat at Holmesdale and saw their lead at the top of Division 1 cut to 12 points – although they host secondplaced HSBC on Saturday in a bumper clash.
After being stuck in by the hosts, the city club soon lost skipper Max Campbell (4) and although Graeme Francis helped steady the innings with 46, it was 59-3 before Sam Burt joined Francis.
The keeper added 24 of a 44-stand for the fourth wicket but when Francis followed with the score on 108, the visitors were in trouble and only Peter Jordan’s 22 helped them post 155.
The hosts made an aggressive start and although Justin Macvicar accounted for one opener without scoring, Dale raced to 61-1 and 115-2 on their way to victory in 25 overs.
Despite the defeat, Canterbury do have a 17-point cushion over third-placed The Mote.
Whitstable were humbled by nine wickets in the same division at HSBC to slip back into the relegation zone.
Chris Carter (30), Ben Purcell (28) and Kai Appleby (27) guided the visitors to 89-3 after a slow start but the next seven batsmen combined for just 11 runs as Whitstable were out for 116.
Sean Turner struck early in the reply but it took the bankers just 19 overs to ease to their target to leave Whitstable two-points adrift of thirdbottom Hayes and safety with six games left.
An opening partnership of 147 between St Lawrence & Highland Court pair Alex Cotter and Matthew Hammond laid the foundations for their 105-run win at Nonington in Division 2.
Cotter (68) and Hammond (83) received support from Ruaridh Macleod (44 not out) as the visitors amassed 266-5 from 50 overs.
In reply, only one Nonington player passed 14. Jono Lewis made a defiant 80 but six Saints bowlers struck with Jamie Vant-harrison taking 3-32 and Andrew Henderson 2-17 as the hosts were out for 161 inside 38 overs. St Lawrence are three points off top spot but only nine clear of third-placed Upchurch.
Tim Collins claimed 5-15 as Chestfield managed to defend a meagre total of 153 at Old Elthamians to win by 59 runs in Division 3.
Dylan Hunter’s 35 was the top score as Chestfield were dismissed in the final of their 50 overs but despite a solid start to the chase, Collins struck to break the partnership with the first of his five victims in a stingy 15-over spell.
Arron Bennett added 3-25 as the hosts limped to 94 all-out in the 46th over with the 17 contributed by extras their top scorer.
Promotion-chasing Walmer inflicted a 122-run hammering on Faversham in Division 5.
The hosts piled-on 261-5, despite two scalps each for Peter Thompson and Chris Streatfield and although opener Liam Flint hit 19, Lee Rigden 22 and there was 26 not out from Phil Rowcroft, it was not enough to save Faversham as they were bowled out for 139 inside 40 overs.