Spell from Clements turns game

Youth cricket

Whitstable under-15s moved into the semi-finals of the Canterbury Junior League Cup with a nine-run victory over Elham Valley.

Put into bat, Whitstable scored 144-5 from their 20 overs, helped by a stand of 66 between new opening pair Rob Gain (40 retired) and Bartholomew Johnson (22).

Ben Mills added 20 before being unluckily run out when the bowler’s foot deflected the ball onto the stumps at the non-striker’s end but with Jonty Barnes making 40 retired, Whitstable posted their best score of the season.

Barnes took an early wicket when Elham replied and Johnson was then involved in a run out but Valley recovered and at 93-2 looked likely winners.

However, up stepped Joe Clements with a spell of four wickets in seven balls on his way to 4-21 as Elham closed on 135-9.

Archie Tennant – the pick of the Whitsale fielders – weighed in with a run out, while Gain took a stumping off Barnes.