Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Tryon’s spell counts for little
RAIN ENDS SAINTS’ HOPES OF PUSHING FOR WIN AFTER SPINNER PUTS THEM IN GOOD POSITION
Rain prevented St Lawrence and Highland Court from pushing for victory after Graeme Tryon had bowled them into a strong position in their Shepherd Neame Kent League home game with Broadstairs.
Tryon’s four-wicket spell helped send the visitors from 110-4 to 135 all out but before Saints could begin their reply, the weather closed in forcing the Division 2 contest to be abandoned.
After being put in, Broadstairs lost Chris Flint with only five on the board but Elliot Fox (19) and Scott Narraway (28) then added 49 and with Swaroop Dasari chipping in with 18, the hosts seemed nicely poised.
However, from 110-4 they collapsed to 114-9 and it was left to last pair Chris Kidd and Jamie Dewell to push the total up to 135.
Off-spinner Tryon was the man who did most to bring about their midinnings slump, taking 4-39 from eight overs, while Jame Vant- Harrison claimed 2-30 from 10.
James Widerstrom had earlier bowled a remarkably tight spell, conceding just four from his 10 overs, eight of which were maidens.
Sixth-placed Saints took 10 points from the game, taking them to 161, the same tally as opponents Broadstairs and Chestfield, with Upchurch now up to third, two points ahead of the chasing trio.
Leaders Folkestone have 174 points and nearest rivals Old Wilsonians 171.
Chestfield’s game with Gravesend was in the balance when the weather forced the teams off at the Bat and Ball Ground.
Chasing a target of 198, Chestfield were 84-4 from 20 overs with two new batsmen at the crease.
Arron Bennett (4-41 from eight overs), Tim Collins (3-50 from 10) and Darrell Carter (2-17 in four) did well with the ball for Chestfield with Gravesend indebted to a half-century from Shinder Sinhu (56), bating at eight, to reach 197.
Third-wicket pair Dylan Hunter (25) and Duncan Brown (29) led the run chase but both fell to Usman Pervaiz just before the rain came.
Canterbury managed just 43 overs in their Division 1 home game with Bickley at Polo Farm. In that time the visitors reached 204-5, with two wickets each for Justin Macvicar (2-17 in six) and Max Campbell (2-52 in 10).
Whitstable were also forced off at Bromley where they had finished their 50 overs on 159-9.
After choosing to bat, Whitstable lost Aaron Garvey without a run on the board but Tanzeela Rahmen (54) and Tom Phillis (30) then added 69.
Rahmen was fourth out at 104, after which they lost their way a bit, slumping to 132-9 before Fraser Coupe and Scott Dale added 27 unbroken. Both men finished 12 not out.
Canterbury are fifth, 22 points behind second- placed Bromley Common. Whitstable remain bottom, 48 points adrift of Linden Park, the team just above the drop zone.
Faversham slipped to another defeat in Division 5, losing by five wickets at home to title-chasing High Halstow.
After electing to bat, the home side were dismissed for 99, with Gareth Abbott (27) doing best of the four players who made double figures. With one eye on the weather, High Halstow chased down their target in 14 overs, Ahmed Safi taking 2-21 from three overs. Faversham are seventh, with a 22-point cushion over next bottom Betteshanger.
The weather also impacted heavily on 2nd XI fixtures but not at Grasmere Road where Chestfield 2nds dismissed eightman Cowdrey for just 26 in Division 4.
Put into bat, Cowdrey lasted just 16.2 overs, with James Nordin (7-3-10-4) leading the demolition job.
Richard Tolson took 2-1 in two overs and Chestfield then eased home, for the loss of one wicket, in three overs. The remain second, 17 points behind leaders Bexley.
Whitstable were unable to start their innings after visitors Beckenham had finished their 50 overs on 247-9 in the 2nd XI Premier Division.
John Butterworth bowled a tidy 10-over spell, taking 2-25, while Stuart Clements took 2-32 from 10 and Sam Denly 2-53 from six. Whitstable are second bottom, 27 points behind the two clubs above them.
Canterbury 2nds found themselves chasing a formidable Opington total of 281-7 in 2nd XI Division 1 and were 68-3 from 18 overs when the players were forced to leave the field.
Ben Rutherford (3-64 in 10 overs) had been the most successful of the eight Canterbury bowlers used. Will Beck took 2-40 from seven. The city club are just above the relegation zone but do have a 51-point buffer.
Division 3 leaders St Lawrence 2nds were 180-1 from 33 overs when their game away to Catford & Cyphers 2nds was abandoned.