Christ Church going for three titles in a row

Indoor cricket

Cricketers at Christ Church University will be seeking a hat-trick of Canterbury Pharon League championships when the seniors’ indoor season begins at the Kent academy on Sunday, writes Alan Bensted.

But their triumphant first team will not actually put bat to ball until a fortnight later when they play Canterbury 1, then newly-promoted Sturry 1.

Of the 24 sides again split into three divisions, five will be from the city’s universities. And three of them, CCCUS 1 and 2 and UKC 1, will be in the First Division.

The last club to achieve three (or more) Division 1 titles in a row were Canterbury 1, who were at their peak from 2007-11, becoming national champions in a Lord’s final. As a result of various ups and downs, the Second Division of the Pharon League is virtually unrecognisable from last season.

Only Harbledown and UKC 2 stay where they are. Up from Division 3 are Margate 1 and 2, Gravesend 6ers 1 and CCCU 3.

The Chestfield and Faversham clubs return to the Third Division along with Street End 2 and Whitstable 2, who were relegated, and Canterbury 3, Grasmere Park, Sheldwich and Sturry 2.

To avoid matches running past bedtime this season, they will start at 10.45am, 45 minutes earlier than in the past.

Whatever their ages, Broadstairs always seem able to find a group of youngsters who rarely lose.

But Canterbury gave their under15s a fright on Saturday. An outstanding innings of 56 from Liam Durrant enabled Canterbury to make 104-5.

But, by taking 13 runs from Canterbury’s penultimate over, Broadstairs completed their second victory, by three wickets.

In another tight finish,st Lawrence and Highland Court’s total of 60-3 was enough to beat Whitstable, all out for 53 after nine overs. Results: St Lawrence & Highland Court 60-3; Whitstable 53 (W. Vant 27). St Lawrence won by seven runs. Canterbury 104-5 (L. Durrant 56, J. Mcvittee 17, C. Roberts 14); Broadstairs 105-3 (T. Izzard 27ret; H. Bates2-29). Broadstairs won by three wickets. Fixtures Senior League, Sunday, Division 1: 10.45am Gravesend v Canterbury 1; noon Sturry 1 v Street End 1. Division 2: 1.15pm Margate 2 v Canterbury 2; 2.30pm Margate 1 v Littlebourne. Division 3: 3.45pm Chestfield v Sheldwich; 5pm Street End 2 v Whitstable 2; 6.15pm Canterbury 3 v Faversham; 7.30pm Sturry 2 v Grasmere Park.