Top of table looks familiar

TITLE BATTLE ALREADY A TWO-HORSE RACE, WRITES

After only five weeks’ play, it is beginning to look as if just two First Division sides are competing for the Pharon Indoor Cricket League title.

Two points separate Canterbury 1, the 100% leaders, and Christ Church University 1, champions for the past two seasons.

The other six look like also-rans but no doubt CCCU2 will have a say.

Canterbury and CCCU1 completed what was virtually a formality, beating Sturry 1 and Canterbury 2, respectively.

Both Sam Burt and skipper Justin Macvicar were not out 39 when Canterbury raced to 132-4. Sturry batted through the allotted 12 overs, closing on 52-5.

Making 139- 2, CCCU’ s performance was similar. Aidan Griggs carried his bat for 42 while Tom Evans (25) and Jack Wheeler (28) retired and Todd Jordan was 27 not out. Canterbury were all out for 57.

Gravesend broke their duck with a five-wicket win over CCCU2. Despite Sam Brady’s unbeaten 40. CCCU could manage only 77-4.

Street End 1’s last pair, Kevin Hopper and Sam Gransden, turned what seemed to be defeat into a thrilling win over UKC1.

Chasing 90-3, Street End were 47-4 at the halfway stage and after Hopper was run out for 31, they required eight from the final over. Gransden settled it with two threes and a boundary. Two balls remained.

Both Second Division fixtures were nail- biters. Last man standing Steve Martin, 42 not out, saw Littlebourne past Margate 2’s 134-3 with two balls to spare. Before that, Andrew Coleman was stumped for 41 and Robbie Lawson jnr bowled for 22.

Margate 1 moved off the bottom by overtaking Harbledown’s 118-3.

In Division 3, Street End 2 could field only four players against Chestfield. The result was a foregone conclusion but, thanks to Philip Marsh’s 46, Street End made 63.

Leaders Chestfield did all that was necessary in 3.1 overs, Aaron Bennett and Ben CarpenterFriend retiring.