Defeat a rare setback for leaders

Kent Regional League

Littlebourne’s grip at the top of Kent Regional League, 1A East loosened a little after a surprise defeat on Saturday. It was a first loss of the season for Littlebourne and they are now just 10 points clear of Boughton & Eastwell. Bourne were bowled out for 117, their lowest total this season when batting first. Wye weren’t about to let an opportunity pass them by and despite losing opener Stuart Wise (2) early on, they got home in the 39th over by eight wickets. With the bat, Mario Draper (29) and Sully Gould (21) top scored for Bourne. Canterbury 3rds have four games left to avoid the drop and they are hanging onto faint hopes. A nine-wicket win over bottom side Folkestone 3rds leaves them 38 points from safety. Folkestone batted first at Polo Farm but were all out for 108. Tony Mitchell’s 3-21 included the wickets of Folkestone’s top scorers Chris Joblin (32) and Daniel Seal (28). Canterbury completed the chase in 30 overs with openers Barnaby Blackwell (33 not out) and Vishesh Samaria (35) scoring the bulk of the runs. Ian Attenborough took a five-fer for Littlebourne 2nds in their seven-wicket win over Borstal 2nds. Attenborough’s five-wicket haul included the Borstal openers and Bourne were left needing 160 for victory. There were contrasting fortunes for the Bourne opening pair. Geoff Plommer was caught behind for four but Robert Lawson scored 41 runs before his stumps were rearranged. Steve Davies hit 37 and Robbie Lawson was not out 39 as Bourne knocked the runs off in 32.5 overs. Sturry were well beaten in 1B East, losing by 10 wickets to East Langdon. Stephen Lamyman (33) top scored for Sturry but the East Langdon openers won it, with Darren Morgan (46 not out) and Lee Crone (78 not out) seeing them home. In 2B East, Herne Bay comfortably beat Nelson 2nds, winning by nine wickets. Bay lost the toss and were asked to bat but posted 218-8 and went onto win the game by 135 runs. Sheldwich were unable to slow down Holcombe & Blue Bell Hill’s pursuit of the 1A Central title. Batting first, Holcombe posted 193-6, indebted to their skipper Ian Hayward (100 not out). In reply, opener James Creed hit 83 runs off 87 balls but none of his team-mates could match it. Sheldwich still needed 40 more runs to match Holcombe’s total when Creed departed but that task, with just one wicket remaining, was beyond them.