Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Leaders in the box seat after crucial victory
Kent League
Canterbury extended their lead in Shepherd Neame Kent League, Division 1 when first met second on Saturday.
They’re 24 points clear of title rivals HSBC after a three-wicket victory at Polo Farm.
HSBC were soon in trouble at 19-3, Justin Macvicar with two early wickets on his way to season’s best figures of 4-55.
He also removed dangerman Grant Stewart for 100 as HSBC closed on 236-9.
Canterbury lost captain Max Campbell to a nine-ball duck but Macvicar (35) and Edward Govier (40) kept the scoreboard ticking over.
Stuart Drakeley then hit an unbeaten 90 off 79 balls, including eight fours and five sixes, to see the city club home with eight overs to spare.
Campbell’s side have five games left, starting with a home fixture against Foikestone on Saturday.
It was Ollie Robinson’s day as Whitstable boosted their Division 1 survival bid with an impressive win over promotion contenders The Mote.
The Sussex all-rounder top scored with 61, then took five wickets as Whitstable won by 58 runs.
They’re now 12 points clear of the bottom two.
Robinson took the game to The Mote in a knock dominated by fours and sixes.
There were also half-centuries for opener Chris Carter (51) and captain Jake Guinan (57 not out) as Whitstable closed on 268-9.
Robinson went on to wipe out the visitors’ top order, claiming 5-37 as the reply were 210 all out.
St Lawrence & Highland Court dropped to third in Division 2 after losing to leaders Bickley Park.
Dylan Emmett took two early wickets on his way to 3-29 but a middle-order revival helped Bickley reach 228-7.
Ruaridh Macloed made 41 coming in at No.4 but the chase was never on with St Lawrence all out for 145 and beaten by 83 runs. Chestfield went top of Division 3 with victory over Sidcup. No.7 Duncan Brown (62) played the key knock in Chestfield’s total of 204 all out.
Arron Bennett (4-31) took out Sidcup’s top four to leave the visitors on the back foot.
Dylan Hunter ( 4- 25) then stepped up before Taylor Chandler (2-26) wrapped up the reply for 137, Chestfield winners by 67 runs.
In Division 5, mid- table Faversham beat bottom side RACS by 34 runs.
Opener Daniel Sadler ( 62) led the way while skipper Phil Rowcroft added 32 as Faversham closed on 211- 7. Jamie Rigden (3-50) did the early damage, then Rowcroft ( 4- 45) dismissed the middle order as RACS fell short on 177 all out.