Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Win puts Saints back on top
Kent Cricket League
St Lawrence & Highland Court are back on top of Division 2 after a comprehensive win at Sibton Park on Saturday.
They won the toss in Lyminge, batted first and got off to a solid start thanks to openers Alex Cotter (23) and Matthew Hammond (33).
Graeme Tyron added 22 and captain Will Hilton made 41 before Connor Hicklin top scored with an unbeaten 45
St Lawrence reached 235-9 in their 50 overs and quickly started to dismantle Sibton’s top order.
The home side’s first five batsmen were dismissed for just 16 runs as the St Lawrence bowlers backed each other up to take a hold.
James Widerstrom (3-12), Ben Trott (3-14) and Tyron (3-29) picked up three wickets each as Sibton collapsed to 88 all out in 30.1 overs. Hilton said: “We got off to a reasonably good start and were about 120-3 but then we collapsed to 150-7. “There was a partnership between Connor and Toby Vaughan of about 75 which then made life a bit more comfortable for us. “We thought 235 would be enough. Par there usually . is 190-200 batting first and the wicket wasn’t as flat as we anticipated. “Everyone chipped in with the ball. “There were two outstanding catches from Matt Hammond early doors to remove their opener and No.3. They were spectacular and we just carried on from there.
“I’m pretty pleased with our form. We need some bigger scores with the bat. I’ve got no dramas with the bowling, we just need those individual contributions, hundreds, that’s what I’m looking for now.”
Hilton’s side have climbed back above previous leaders Chestfield, who lost a close game at Upchurch.
Chestfield batted poorly and were 59-5 at one stage before Duncan Brown (30), Jamie Dowkes (33) and Arron Bennett (28) boosted the score to a more respectable 168 all out.
Harry Bee (4-38) and his bowling colleagues did their best to keep Chestfield in the game but Upchurch reached 172-7 after 46 overs to win by three wickets.
In Division 1, Canterbury recorded straight home win.
They bowled HSBC out for 200 and then eased to a six-wicket victory with Elliot Lewis (76) and Kris Glass (59) anchoring their successful run-chase.
Whitstable’s woes at the foot of the table continued with a sixth successive defeat, this one away to Dartford.
Captain Stuart Sinclair hit 72 in their total of 183-7 but Whitstable’s eight bowlers toiled in vain as Dartford eased to 184-2.
Faversham are sixth in Division 5 following their 66-run win at home to newly-promoted Dartfordians.
Daniel Sadler (47) top scored as Faversham batted first and scored 180-9.
The hosts then dismissed Dartfordians for 114 with Andrew Machin (4-29) the pick of the bowlers.
Benedict Croft picked up 2- 0 from 1.3 overs and there were also two wickets each for Rupert Howe and Chris Smith.
Whitstable 2nds ended their fourmatch losing streak in the Premier Division by chasing down 212 to beat Dartford at The Belmont.
Tom Phillips hit 12 fours and two sixes on his way to an unbeaten 105, sharing a partnership worth 128 with Luke Blake, who scored 71.
Sixth-placed Canterbury 2nds won by six wickets at HSBC in Division 1.
Alexander Christie (5-28) helped bowl HSBC out for 152 before Bradley Goldsack top scored with 45 in the Canterbury run-chase.
St Lawrence 2nds collected 20 points without even playing after Sibton Park forfeited their Division 3 fixture.
Tom Barton (129) and Stephen Cox (66) put on 129 for the second wicket as Chestfield 2nds thrashed Catford Wanderers in Division 4.
Chestfield posted 244- 6 and Wanderers then crashed to 73 all out with Brian Moody-smith (5-13) and Henry Collins (3-24) among the wickets for the hosts. fourth-placed their third