Fortunes are looking up after fourth win in a row

Tenterden

Skipper Andrew Crawford reflected on a “brilliant month” as Tenterden claimed their fourth successive win to climb to fifth place in the Shepherd Neame Kent League, Division 1. The 26-run success at Upchurch on Saturday, moved them above Whitstable, this weekend’s opponents The Mote and Hayes, while also confirming the home club’s relegation. Crawford (pictured) said: “Our form has been polar opposite to the first half of the season, when we were inconsistent and played poorly. “We have played some excellent cricket with bat and ball but while we are still not mathematically safe, we are now looking above us rather than below, and haven’t given up on the possibility of even finishing third.” Chris Vernon with 75 off 57 balls, including 12 fours and a six and West Indian overseas recruit Hayden Walsh with a near run-a-ball 73 (nine fours), provided the foundation for Tenterden’s 289-6 with Upchurch making 221-9 in reply. Vernon and Crawford put on 113 for the first wicket before Walsh and Harry Galpin (36 not out) added 70 for the sixth wicket, with the former last man to fall. Crawford added: “Chris has had lots of starts this season and hasn’t kicked on but he batted beautifully. “Hayden’s form has been sensational. He has played first class cricket for the Leeward Islands, so we knew what a good player he was. “We would like to see him back next year and have already had a conversation about that.” Late-order resistance denied Tenterden a quicker victory after Upchurch lost three wickets with the score on 107 but Crawford insisted: “The game wasn’t as close as the scores suggest. “Our total was well above par but they were never in the hunt. I don’t think there was any real intent to chase down the target and we gave them some cheap runs.” Tenterden 2nds suffered another poor day with the bat – all out for 86 against Sandwich, who only made 117 themselves (Abdullah Adil 5-29).