Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Leaders close in on another title
TWO WINS IN TWO DAYS KEEPS CHAMPIONS IN CHARGE
With two victories in the space of 24 hours, Christ Church University 1 have opened up such a lead at the top of the Pharon Indoor Cricket League that the title could be theirs again before Christmas.
But the team that has not lost in the league since last November breathed a sigh of relief at the Kent Cricket Academy on Monday night.
They won the clash of universities by one wicket – with a wide bowled off the fourth legitimate ball of the last over.
The previous day, CCCU had beaten Canterbury 2 by 25 runs to finish the first half of the season with their seventh consecutive win.
But UKC 1 belied their mid-table position by giving the champions their sternest yet in a match played at a furious pace.
The batsmen’s running between wickets was hair-raising at times but it paid dividends.
Jack Bradley (29) and Aaron Rose (27), both not out, dominated UKC’S total of 94-3. With Aiden Griggs and Mike Rose also reaching 25, CCCU were able to maintain the necessary run rate but two smart stumpings by wicketkeeper Tom Wroot brought about a mini-collapse.
From 64-1 after eight overs, CCCU slipped to 89- 4 with one over remaining. The luckless David Croshaw bowled a wide, took Rose’s wicket, was driven for four by Jack Belmont to level the scores, then drifted another wide to settle it.
Unless CCCU suffer a complete loss of form, they are likely to qualify again for the county finals in which last season they hit the headlines by bowling out Bapchild for nought.
Second-placed Gravesend 1 and Canterbury are now four points behind CCCU. Gravesend were 15-2 against Street End 1 on Sunday but recovered to make 92- 4.
Then four run outs cost Street End dearly. Paul Betts hit two successive sixes but James Chamberlain was the only other batsman in double figures as they stumbled to 74.
Walk-overs are now all too prevalent in what should be the league’s most prestigious division. Littlebourne, promoted from Division 2, became the third club unable to field a team and gifted two points to Canterbury 1.
Littlebourne are also deducted two points and are pointless at the bottom of the table. Whitstable 1 are also in the relegation zone despite James Loader’s 39 out of 81 against UKC 1, who won by four wickets.
With CCCU2 not playing, Littlebourne 2 took over the leadership of Division 2, result of a 40-run win over UKC2.
Steve Martin (not out), Alex Mullett and Geoff Plommer all passed 25 in Littlebourne’s 118-1.
UKC opener Michael Tyrer struck six fours in his 45 but Martin’s safe hands held four catches to help dismiss them for 78.
Making a long overdue debut, Whitstable 2 lost a neck-and-neck match with Street End 2.
Max Rutherford, not out 36, took Whitstable to 98- 4 but Street End openers Chamberlain and Bob Spence
In last week’s indoor cricket report, we stated that Paul Steer was captain of the Canterbury team that won the National Indoor Cricket Competition in 2011. In fact, Simon Smith led the side. We apologise for the mistake. both retired on 26 and the tail made sure with eight runs (four wides included) off the final over.
The two new Gravesend sides are making a big impression in Division 3.
Gers1 showed leaders CCCU3 are not invincible, beating them by two wickets with two balls remaining. CCCU had scored 115-5.
Gers2 retained their 100% record and moved to within two points of CCCU by making 151-2 against Sheldwich and keeping them to 60- 4.
The biggest surprise of the junior season came when the all-conquering Broadstairs under-15s lost to Chestfield Red Caps in the last round of league cup fixtures.
Not only did Chestfield achieve what no one else had done for a long time, they did it so comfortably. Chasing 72-5, Chestfield had four wickets and four overs to spare.
The juniors have Saturday off before the knock-out rounds begin on November 26. Finals day is December 3.
For the first time, the senior league has two fixtures on Saturday.