Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Champions’ early marker
Indoor cricket
It took the students of Christ Church University just one game to announce that they have every intention of retaining the indoor cricket title they earned so handsomely earlier this year.
Able to pick from the same squad when the Canterbury Pharon League season opened at the Kent Academy on Sunday, CCCU1 thrashed Gravesend 1 by six wickets.
Despite some tail-wagging, Gravesend were dismissed for 77, Jack Belmont taking 3-27.
CCCU responded with an unbroken opening stand between Aiden Griggs and Graham Francis (both retired on 25) and won with three overs remaining.
Canterbury 1, runners-up to CCCU, gained a predictable victory over their seconds by 30 runs.
The experienced Ben Cooper, who retired, and Max Campbell both reached the 20s in a first team total of 121-4.
Another Canterbury stalwart, Paul Steer, was 36 not out for Canterbury but they fell 30 runs short.
Littlebourne 1’s first taste of First Division life ended in an 82-run defeat against Gravesend 1.
Openers Rand (68 not) and Sharma (43) took Gravesend to 137- 5 before Littlebourne were dismissed for 55. Only Ian Attenborough (26) reached double figures.
Much to the chagrin of their longer-serving members, Street End – who entered three sides in 2015-16 – conceded the points to Whitstable, only one player being available.
By contrast, in the Second Division, Street End 2 routed Harbledown for 24 after making 117-4. Sacha Azizi (40) and Philip Marsh (39) were both not out.
Having put a new bat to good use – it was a 40th birthday present – Marsh bowled his flighted medium pace as straight as ever and took 4-8 in three overs. All his victims were bowled.
The all-round performances of Steve Martin and Andrew Coleman – both ex-street End – gave Littlebourne 2 a last-over win over Gravesend 2.
Martin took 2-14 in restricting Gravesend 2 to 88-5, then carried his bat for 36.
Coleman took one wicket, ran out opener Bhoombla (40) and scored an unbeaten 23.
Street End’s woes had begun on Saturday.
One short, their under-15s were bowled out for 11 in a three-over innings by Chestfield Red Caps. They had made 131-2.
After three rounds, Chestfield and Broadstairs, winners by three wickets against Canterbury B, remain the teams to beat.
Details, page 56.