Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Openers Holton and Gould lay the platform for victory
Kent Regional League
Littlebourne kept up the pressure on the top two in Championship East with a six-wicket win over Sandwich 3rds.
Robbie Loomer (3-44 from 12 overs) and Buzz Gould (2-50 from 12) helped restrict Sandwich to 187-8 and openers Owen Holton (89) and Sully Gould (43) then laid the platform for the chase with Phillip Ritson adding 31.
A blistering knock of 88 from Dan Laslett led Ash to a match-winning total of 291-5 against St Margaret’s.
Openers Chris Sargent (56) and Steve Laslett (28) had given the innings early impetus, with Gary Laslett finishing unbeaten on 82. St Margaret’s were 194 all out in reply, Lloyd King top scoring with 42. For Ash, Tim Smith took 5-62 from 11 overs, Peter Gambrell 3-40 in 9.5 and Ed Laslett 2-25 in seven.
Openers Max Blythin (39) and Phil Stuart (31) gave Sheldwich a good start against The Mote 3rds in 1A Central but they then lost wickets before an unbroken eighth-wicket stand between Matt Smyth (41 not out) and Nick Collins (31 not out) lifted them to 172-7.
Smyth (3-19 in six overs) was also the best of the Sheldwich bowlers but The Mote got home for the loss of seven wickets in the 38th over.
Half-centuries from Paul Steer (68 not out) and Tory Hughes (57 retired) led promotion hopefuls Canterbury 3rds to a winning total of 235-4 against Saltwood in 1A East.
Max Harris (4-39) and Rob Marsh (3-33) then did most to restrict the home side to 223 all out.
Sturry’s bowlers were on top against Hythe Green in 1B East, dismissing the visitors for just 94. Aaron Pout took 4-27 from 10 overs and Brett Marshall 3-20 in eight before Jack Fagg’s rapid undefeated 74 saw the leaders home in 15.3 overs.
Only two players reached double figures as Grasmere Park were bowled out for 73 by Nelson in 1C East. The visitors needed just 14.1 overs to knock off the runs, two wickets down.
Littlebourne 3rds fared even worse against Exiles-at-stelling Minnis, being dismissed for just 66.
The Exiles then reached their modest target without loss in 6.5 overs and now trail leaders Tenterden by just a point.
Ash 2nds were dismissed for 104 (Alexander Laslett 28) on the way to a 98-run defeat away to Tenterden 3rds in 1C East, while Littlebourne 2nds slipped to a six-wicket defeat to Walmer 2nds in 2A East after being limited to 109-9.
James Chamberlain ( 32) was comfortably top scorer as Street End were all out for 92 against Sandwich 4ths in 2B East.
Sandwich then eased to victory in 22 overs. Whitstable 3rds conceded against Northdown.