SPORT Breaking sports news every day at www.kentonline.co.uk/sport Battle will go to the end Indoor cricket

Whichever team out of six contenders will gain promotion to the top division of the Pharon Indoor Cricket League is not likely to be known until the season’s last ball is bowled on March 24.

Chestfield are worthy Division 2 champions but in the scramble for runners-up only four points separate Sturry 1 ( second) and Sheldwich ( seventh). Sandwiched between them are Harbledown, Canterbury 2, Margate and Littlebourne.

Outstanding on Sunday were Margate, whose batsmen played with similar ferocity to the gale, threatening the famous tree outside.

Against Sturry 1 they stormed to 147-3 at a rate of more than 12 runs an over.

Leading the carnage were openers Josh Williamson (42) and Jamie Dewell (36), still together after returning from retirement. Harry Carter also retired, on 25.

Then it was the turn of a family not unknown in Thanet sport, the Benfields, Jordan and Dave.

As many as seven sixes were hit during the Margate innings but Sturry were not to be disgraced.

Dave Gentry (49) and Tom Jessup (27) shared a big secondwicket partnership and there were late runs from Paul Noon (19). But the Benfields had the last say, each taking two wickets, and Sturry were dismissed for 114.

After losing Neil Turner to the second ball of the match, Harbledown encountered a rampant Chestfield side that has now won 10 out of 10 games.

Henry Roberts and Greg Shields each scored 26 for Harbledown but their total of 76 was overtaken in a mere 6.5 overs. Aaron Bennett and Ben Carpenter- Friend both retired and Joe Whittington was 15 not out.

In their bid for a 100 per cent record all season Chestfield now meet Margate and Harbledown.

There was an upset in the Third Division. Canterbury 3, still the lowest team in the league, beat Worth by 10 runs. It was only their second defeat.

Canterbury successfully defended a total of 119, compiled by Will Trafford (30), Roberts (27), George Gooderham (21) and Michael Wilshaw (15).

Despite the efforts of Malik (26), Sohail (23) and Anwar (19), Worth did not apply enough pressure towards the end of innings and were all out for 106.

UKC 2, who were scoring at more than nine runs an over all season, raced to 134 against Street End 2’s youngsters.

Harry Wright carried his bat for 36, Shastri and Benjamin Austin both retired on 26 and Harry Johnson was out for 18.

Four Street End batsmen made double figures, Johi best with 22, but they lost by 40 runs.

Mark Bradley’s obdurate 47 not out could not save Reculver against Faversham, who lost only one wicket chasing 91-5. And they had five overs to spare.

CCCU 3 ended a day when bowlers made little or no impact by amassing 150-3 against Sturry 1, who replied with 77-4.

Results: Division 2

Harbledown 76 (H Roberts 26, G Shields 26); Chestfield 90-1 (B Carpenter-friend 26 ret, A Bennett 25 ret, J Whittington 15 not). Chestfield won by five wickets. Margate 147-3 (J Williamson 42 not, J Dewell 36 not, H Carter 25 ret, J Benfield 21; P Moon 2-32). Sturry 124-5 (D Gentry 49, Jessup 27, P Moon 19). Margate won by 23 runs.

Division 3

Canterbury 3 119 (G Gooderham 21, W Trafford 30, M Wilshaw 15); Worth 106 (A Malik 26, K Anwar 20, M Qamar 10). Canterbury won by 13 runs. UKC 2 134-2 (H Wright 36 not, A Shastri 26 ret, B Austin 26 ret, H Johnson 18 not, G Hood 11): Street End 2 94-5 (B Kite 13, S Johi 22, W Dibiase 13, A Dibiase 10 not). UKC won by 40 runs. Reculver 91-5 (M Bradley 47 not; E Hogg 3-24); Faversham 93-1 (H Machin 28 not). Faversham won by five wickets. CCCU 3 150-3 (J Harris 27, H Brooker 28 not, O Johnson 28 ret, J Howard 23 not); Sturry 2 77-4 (M Delo 31 not, J Walsh 21). CCCU won by 73 runs.

Sunday fixtures: Division 3

10.45am Reculver v CCCU 3; 12 noon Faversham v UKC 2; 1.15pm Worth v Street End; 2.30 Canterbury 3 v Sturry 2.

Division 2

3.45 Margate v Chestfield; 5 Littlebourne v Canterbury; 6.15 Sturry 1 v Sheldwich.