Coronations are looking certain Indoor cricket

Such is their consistency that long before the daffodils bloom the Canterbury, Chestfield and Worth clubs will be celebrating divisional titles in the Pharon Indoor Cricket League, writes Alan Bensted. At the Kent Academy on Sunday undefeated champions Canterbury scored their 11th successive victory and Chestfield – also yet to lose – went six points clear of the nearest opposition, as did Worth in Division 3. In what was a day for the bowlers and fielders, there was the faintest chance after a sluggish start by Canterbury – playing their first game since November 18 – that Gravesend 1 might cause an upset. Canterbury’s atttack conceded 15 wides and Gravesend closed on 92-5. Bhoomla was 32 not out. Canterbury lost Sam Burt in the second over, but the situation was retrieved by an unbroken stand between opener Isaac Dilkes (26) and Alex Beck (25). Then Ben Cooper, grieved at being hit for two sixes in an over, gained revenge by getting off the mark with a six. He was still at the crease on 18 when Canterbury went four points clear of Christ Church University 1 – who had a day off – with five wickets and 2.3 overs in hand. Whitstable beat Street End 1, then bottom-of-the-table Gravesend 6ers. Scrooge-like opening bowling from James Mills and Kane Smith, who between them went for only 24 runs from six overs, helped Whitstable dismiss Street End for 75. Whitstable took until the 10th over before winning by four wickets. Smith top-scored with 20. He went on to take 3-10 as a relegation-bound Gravesend 6ers were skittled for 44. John Butterworth took 2-24, his figures marred by a last-ball six. James Loader (23) and Smith (18) knocked off the runs in 5.3 overs. Street End had to work much harder against the 6ers, who made 74-3. After Tom Stewart was out for 22, Street End were 59-5 but Sam Gransden came to the rescue with a composed 21 and saw Street End home in the penultimate over. Running away with a 100% record at the top of Division 2 are Chestfield, seemingly certain to go back where they belong. In the shortest of matches they thrashed Littlebourne, out for 39 in 7.3 overs. Although Chestfield lost Aaron Bennett for 20, Ben Carpenter-friend (17 not out) did the rest. The innings lasted 3.3 overs. Canterbury 3rds’ 122 against Harbledown was the biggest total of the day. Responsible were Paul Steer (29), James Mcvittie (28) and last man Ben Line (40). Harbledown contributed to their own downfall with five run-outs and lost by 41 runs. There is little to choose between the other six sides. Sturry’s 93-4 was not enough against Margate, winners by four wickets with an over remaining. In the first season in the league, leaders Worth have made a big impression in Division 3. They went six points ahead of CCU 3 after bowling out Faversham for 61.