Former cup winners in surprise exit

Bat & trap

Division 2 side Smugglers B knocked out Henry Court Cup 2013 winners Artichoke A in the quarter-finals of this year’s competition. Matt Carr hit 29 runs in the first leg and Steve Coker took five traps for the Smugglers, while Chokes’ Martyn Bax replied with 22 runs in the first leg. Scott Elvidge was in a great form as he rattled up 54 runs and took four traps for Littlebourne in their 2-1 victory over Huntsman & Horn. Team-mate Reece Alleyene also hit the spot four times. Frog & Orange won 2-1 at Market Inn. Tony Austin hit 23 runs in the third leg for the Frog. Market’s Terry Richards scored 31 runs in the first leg and team-mate Paul Cook took four traps. Compasses completed the last four with a 2-1 win against Castle B. Two Brothers beat Golden Lion B 2-1 in the first round of the Henry Court Plate, while Golden Lion A defeated Artichoke B 2-0. Dove Inn B beat home rivals Dove Inn A 2-0, Red Lion B got the better of Red Lion C 2-0, while Shipwright Arms defeated Two Brewers A 2-0. In the Premiership, Gentil Knyght C moved off the bottom with a 2-1 victory over Catholic Club. Captain Dave John finished off the first leg with a 13 not out, David O’sullivan bowled four traps and finished off with eight not out. Gary Clark replied with 34 runs for the Catholics. The newly-formed Invicta Cup between the Canterbury and Medway Leagues saw Canterbury’s Evenhill Crusaders come away from the Dancing Dog Saloon 4-3 victors on aggregate. Evenhill were 3-0 up from the Canterbury tie and only needed a leg to secure victory. It certainly didn’t go to plan, as they lost 3-0. So a deciding leg was needed. In the women’s league, the Fremlins Cup final was played between Market Inn and Ratling Club. Market took the first leg comfortably, bowling the Ratling out for 15. Market’s first player Sue Potts stood and carried her bat in the second leg. Ratling got 37 runs and again the Market stepped up – they were on 34 before Ratling’s Georgina Robson took the vital trap to make it 1-1. In the third leg, Market were all out for 16 and Ratling emerged winners.