Ball and du Plooy hold steady

Tenterden

A third-wicket century stand between Adam Ball and Leus du Plooy underpinned Tenterden’s successful run-chase in their three-wicket win at former Premier Division leaders Sandwich Town on Saturday.

The fifth victory of the campaign leaves the Morghew Park side fourth in the table, and a step closer to ensuring Premier Division survival for a third season. They lie six points ahead of defending champions Hartley, beaten for the third time in five games at Bexley.

Youngster Rory Smith’s half- century delayed Tenterden’s early progress, after the home side won the toss and batted, eventually closing on 188-9.

Ball (60) and du Plooy (53) rescued the side from a poor start (12-2), Linden Lockhart followed up with 31, before Sam Weller and Tom Richards’ big-hitting won the game in style with more than an over to spare.

Kent seamer Matt Hunn had earlier sent back Chris Vernon and Ben Price with only five on the board for Tenterden.

Vernon was bowled for a sixball duck, with Price (5) dismissed in similar fashion, unable to follow up his double century of the previous week.

Ball and du Plooy dug-in, with some clever and neat batting, both passing 50, before falling in the space of seven runs.

Du Plooy hit six fours in his 94-ball knock, taking his league total for the season to 529, while Ball struck a six and three boundaries from 90 deliveries.

Sandwich hit the ropes three times, before Weller had Zack Fagg (12) caught behind by Price, and Tyler Griffin ran-out youngster Jordan Cox (5) to make it 30-2.

Ball, with two wickets, and Ali Neale reduced the home side to 75-5, and du Plooy then had Grant Stewart (17) held by Ball.

Matt Hunn made 22, before Ball helped left-arm spinner Ranjit Singh remove Smith (56 – six fours off 100 balls).

Andrew Crawford (47) and Jamie Drewe (32) top scored as Tenterden 2nds (189) lost by 16 runs at home to Sandwich 2nds.