Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Batsmen set up victory
Cricket
A solid display from Canterbury’s top order laid the foundation for victory in their Kent Cricket League opener. In a match reduced to 35 overs per side because of the weather, Canterbury set hosts The Mote a challenging target.
Issac Dilkes (45) and Ben Line (47) top scored for Canterbury while Jack Wheeler contributed 32, Jarryd Taig 22 and Euan Munday 28. Chasing 220-6, the Mote were restricted to 169-7. The wet weather led to St Lawrence & Highland Court’s match against Hayes being cancelled but their 2nds were in action at The Belmont, against Whitstable 2nds.
The hosts won the Division 2 2nd XI match by eight runs. Aaron Garvey hit a halfcentury for Whitstable and Henry Goss scored 40 to leave St Lawrence needing 192 for victory. Will Vant (52) top scored in reply but their run chase fell short.
Chestfield beat Tenterden by eight runs in their Division 2 match.
An unbeaten 72 from Daniel Patching proved vital for Chestfield as they posted 141-5. They then restricted Tenterden to 134-8 in the 35-over match. Chestfield 2nds were all out for just 20 in their Division 3 2nd XI match against Catford Wanderers.
The home side knocked the runs off in 10.4 overs but still lost a couple of wickets, both taken by Stewart Murrell.
Sam Denly retired 60 not out and Stuart Drakeley (53) bagged a half-century for Whitstable as they eased to a 107-run victory over Kings Hill in Division 3. The home side were bowled out for 94 in pursuit of 201-5. Faversham (112-7) beat Addington Village (98-8) by 14 runs in their Division 5 match that was reduced to 30 overs. Will Dear’s impressive spell with the ball hampered the Villagers’ reply, claiming the top three batsmen, all departing for single figures. Faversham 2nds were involved in a higher-scoring game as they defeated Egerton by 81 runs in the Kent Regional League. Their total of 227-4 proved too much for the visitors, with Luke Dengate (69), Tom Verner (54) and David Harris (70 not out) all producing impressive knocks. John Harrison was Egerton’s main man, smashing an unbeaten 96. Littlebourne’s 1sts and 2nds had their matches cancelled but the 3rds saw some action, beating Sandwich Town 4ths by nine wickets in the Kent Regional League.
They were chasing 152-6 and knocked the runs off in 30.4 overs thanks to Geoff Plommer (50 not out), Paul Spratt (37) and Ian Hitchings (48 not out)
■ St Lawrence and Highland Court Ladies won their opening Women’s Cricket Southern League match by two wickets against Ansty Ladies.
The game was held at Highland Court and after the home side elected to field, Ansty made 198-9 from 50 overs, Jimmie Spence top scoring with 63 while Charlotte Pape took 4-28 from her nine overs.
The St Lawrence innings got off to a solid start with Megan Sturge scoring 22 and Elysa Hubbard making 30.
Pape (44) and Emily Thompson (38) put on 78 for the fifth wicket before the loss of four wickets for 14 runs put the result in doubt.
At 195-8, St Lawrence needed just four runs for victory from four overs. Emily Martin and Hannah Jeer held their nerve to see the home side over the line, Martin hitting a four to seal victory with 14 balls to spare.