The Mote raise their game
It felt like county cricket was back in Maidstone when The Mote met star-studded Minster on Saturday.
The Islanders showed their quality with former Zimbabwe Test player Sean Ervine making a match-winning century when second met third in Division 2. But the hosts more than played their part on a sweltering afternoon, with the atmosphere boosted by a healthy family day crowd and DJ Rob Howard, who kept the music playing between overs.
Mote captain James Marriott said: “It was a really good game of cricket.
“We stepped up our standard and Minster knew they’d been in a game.
“I’m not sure if they’ve faced that in the league so far this season so there’s a lot of positives for us to take.
“It’s a loss but it’s important to learn from losses and we take a lot out of it.
“To restrict them to 289 on a flat belter was a really good effort but maybe it took too much out of us for batting.
“With the standard of cricket and the music and the crowd it felt like a county game.
“I’ve not experienced that in a Saturday game before and I think the Minster boys enjoyed it, too.” Matt White bowled Minster captain George Duggan for a duck in his first over but that brought Ervine to the crease. He was controversially given not out on 80 after gloving the ball to Alex Fordham, who took a brilliant catch, and went on to make 121 off 117 balls before falling to Glen Aukett.
The Mote bowled and fielded well, including Matt Luksich’s spectacular run out of Kai Appleby that saw him anticipate a quick single and hit the stumps without looking.
Minster closed on 289-6 but The Mote were soon in trouble at 43-4 in reply, James Thompson removing openers Richard Coles (2) and White (13).
Luksich made 62 from 60 balls – his second half-century of the summer – while Chris Back marked his return with seven boundaries in a knock of 61 off 79 balls as The Mote closed 67 runs short on 222-9.
Marriott said: “If a couple of decisions had gone our way we could have won but we need to bat better.
“We can’t be 40-4 chasing 290 against a side like that.
“That’s one thing we need to work on because we’ve not dominated a game with the bat this season apart from the one game where we didn’t lose a wicket.
“Minster will win the league and that leaves the rest of us chasing second place.”
Minster may be title favourites but Ashford Town remain top – albeit having played a game more – after beating Orpington by 80 runs. Liam Tegg made 102, sharing an opening stand of 193 with Andy Allon (83).
There were also runs for captain Ben Allon (41) as hosts Town closed on 305-6, Alex Harding taking 3-39 for Orpington.
Andy Allon broke a first-wicket partnership of 71 on his way to figures of 3-28, while Craig Buckham (2-43) also impressed as Orpington closed on 225-6. Conor Moldrich’s unbeaten century proved in vain as Chestfield lost to Sidcup by eight wickets.
Moldrich made 119 not out in a total of 255-6, James Dawes (4-26) the stand-out bowler.
Sidcup went on the attack in reply, Sam Lockwood hitting 10 fours and five sixes before falling for 86 off the bowling of Duncan Brown.
Casey Jerom took up the baton, finishing on 102 not out as Sidcup met their target with seven overs to spare.
Old Wilsonians claimed their second win of the summer, beating Dartford by six wickets. Michael Mitchell picked up 3-11 as Dartford were held to 170-8, Lee Gray (36) top-scoring. Matthew Golding (67 not out) and Sydney Sherlock (40) put on 102 for the third wicket to leave Wilsonians on the verge of victory.
Alex Cullingham broke the partnership but the hosts won with more than 10 overs to spare and are now only six points from safety.
James Mills made a halfcentury but Whitstable’s wait for a win goes on.
The No.9 hit 53, including five fours and three sixes, but opponents OD CUACO won by 59 runs.
Whitstable made a good start, Joshua Lock (4-32) removing both openers cheaply as CUACO slipped to 19-2, only for the home side to regroup and reach a score of 232-8.
Mills’ efforts prolonged the reply but, with Andrew Ainger taking 4-18, Whitstable were all out for 173.