Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Saints right back in hunt
Kent League
St Lawrence and Highland Court reignited their Shepherd Neame Kent League promotion hopes on Saturday when they handed Division 2 leaders Folkestone a 41-run defeat.
Opener Matthew Hammond’s 76 underpinned the home total of 196 which also included 38 from skipper Will Hilton, 22 from Jack Balsdon and useful late-order contributions from Hamish Macleod (16) and Joe Payne (15).
Payne then played a vital role with the ball returning figures of 4-31 from nine overs to help send the visitors sliding to 155 all out.
Jamie Vant-harrison took 2-21 in 10 overs with Nick Ward’s unbeaten 27, made batting at No.9, the top score for Folkestone.
They continue to lead the table but Saints are now up to second, just 10 points adrift with a nine-point cushion over third-placed Old Wilsonians.
Chestfield also remain in the shake up and they did their chances no harm with a fivewicket win over Nonington.
Dylan Hunter was their hero as they chased down Nonington’s 218-9. Entering the fray after Dan Patching had gone for three, the Australian totally dominated the Chestfield reply with an unbeaten 135 as his side got home with six overs to spare.
Extras, with 27, was the next highest score with Joshua Lock (16) next best with the bat.
Harry Bee (3-44 in 10 overs), Taylor Chandler (2-31 off 10) and Hunter (2-39 from 10) had earlier shared most of the bowling spoils.
Chestfield are fourth but well within striking distances of the teams above them.
Whitstable may have been relegated from Division 1 last week but they showed they still possess plenty of fight, recording a one-wicket win over Hayes at Belmont.
Chasing the Hayes total of 174-9, Whitstable looked up against it at 86-6 but the lower order, led by Aaron Garvey (26), Fraser Coupe (30) and Josh Smith (16 not out), edged them home with two balls to spare.
Tanzeela Rahmen had earlier made 33 and Seth Simmons 26.
Best with the ball for the home side who fought back after Hayes had been 79 without loss, were Scott Dale (3-28 in 10 overs), Jake Guinan (2-32 in 10) and Simmons (2-35 in 10).
Canterbury’s promotion hopes suffered a setback when they lost by 18 runs away to Bromley who finished their 50 overs on 239-6.
Kris Glass was the most successsful Canterbury bowler taking 4-36 from 10 overs.
Canterbury slipped to 49-3 in reply but all the time opener Max Campbell was there, they had a chance.
He made 71 from 127 balls, with just three boundaries, before being seventh out at 208.
Support came from Glass (41) and Stuart Drakeley (40) but Canterbury were dismissed, in the final, over for 221.
Bromley (193 points) are now third and Canterbury (188) fourth, 23 points behind Bromley Common who occupy the second promotion berth.
Faversham enhanced their chances of avoiding relegation from Division 5 with a 72-run home win over Betteshanger.
Fifth-wicket pair Andy Parker (61 from 68 balls with eight fours) and Chris Smith (56 from 58 balls with six boundaries) added 62 to help push the total up to 224 after Lee Rigden (31) and Dan Sadler (25) had provided early impetus.
Betteshanger were dismissed for 152 in reply, with Faversham opening duo Chris Streatfield (4-54 in 12.3 overs) and Jamie Rigden (4-21 in 15) doing most of the damage. Faversham’s win extended their avantage over next bottom Betteshanger to 23 points.