As you were as champions close in on yet another title

Indoor cricket

To no one’s surprise, Canterbury indoor cricketers end the year as they began it – atop the Pharon League with prospect of further honours to come.

With three matches to play, the national champions are heading for their 13th First Division title this century. And it could be theirs on January 26 when they meet Kent University 1, their only challengers.

By not losing a wicket on Sunday until 100 runs had been scored, Canterbury 1 crushed Chestfield by 81 runs.

Four batsmen retired. Opener Stuart Drakeley returned to carry his bat for 41, Justin Macvicar and Max Campbell passed 25 and a late flurry from Freddie Hulbert took Canterbury to 143-2.

There was stubborn resistance from Chestfield but few runs and they closed on 62-4. Chestfield then ran into a Street End side in their best form of the season – in two successive games.

Despite runs from Flynn Carter (29) and Matt Nordin (25), Chestfield were the first of two teams to struggle against the line and length of left-arm medium pace bowler James Chamberlain, who took 3-17. Chestfield were all out for 82 which Arron Hopkins, Matt Goldbacher and Sam Gransden knocked off with five wickets to spare. Street End then raced to 145-4 against Gravesend. Opener Goldbacher was 47 not out and Gransden and Hopkins were in the 20s. Chamberlain then took another three wickets – his three overs costing only nine runs – and, although Gravesend’s tail lingered, they were beaten by 61 runs.

Gravesend and Chestfield now look like relegation candidates. Who might replace them?

Favourites setting the pace in the Second Division are...canterbury.

Their seconds defeated Whitstable by 24 runs thanks to the experienced Paul Steer. With Canterbury losing wickets cheaply, Steer stood firm at No.4, being not out for 77 out of a total of 113-5. He hit a six, four fours and 13 threes.

In reply, Whitstable were never up with the required rate. James Loader was run out for 35 and Kai Appleby was 23 not out, but their efforts were in vain. Whitstable closed on 89-4. In their next game, with Margate, Whitstable promoted James Mills to open. What a shrewd decision it was.

Playing a responsible innings, Mills was denied a century – by a mere five runs.

Loader (30) and Appleby (20) were able partners, but, eventually, even though 17 runs came from Whitstable’s last over, Mills missed out on three figures.

Margate were then dismissed for 99, Jamie Dewell making 41.

Earlier, Canterbury 2 had recorded another victory – over Sturry 1. In a total of 135-5 Ben Rutherford top-scored with 35 and Steer warmed up with 26. Canterbury’s attack then gave little away, Sturry closing on 88-2.

Results: Division 1

Canterbury 1 143-2 (S. Drakeley 41not, M. Campbell 28ret, J. Macvicar 25ret, F. Hulbert 18not); Chestfield 62-4 (L. Wain 15, B. Burgess 13). Canterbury won by 81 runs.

Chestfield 82 (M. Nordin 25, F. Carter 29; J. Chamberlain 3-17); Street End 84-1 (S. Gransden 27ret, A. Hopkins 18not, M. Goldbacher 17); Street End won by five wickets.

Street End 145-5 (M. Goldbacher 47not, S. Gransden 27ret, A. Hopkins 20); Gravesend 84-5 (A. Rana 23, K. Tahaher 23not; J. Chamberlain 3-9). Street End won by 61 runs.

Division 2

Canterbury 2 135-5 (B., Rutherford 35, L. Durrant 26, P. Steer 26, D. Moore 22). Sturry 1 88-2 (J. Fagg 25ret, M. Delo 24not, T. Jessup 16). Canterbury won by 47 runs.

Canterbury 2 113-5 (P. Steer 77not, B. Rutherford 18); Whitstable 89-4 (J. Loader 35, K. Appleby 23, A. Garvey 17). Canterbury won by 24 runs. Whitstable 159-4 (J. Mills 95not, J. Loader 30, K. Appleby 30); Margate 9 (J. Dewell 41, J. Williamson 18), Whitstable won by 60 runs.