Victory moves Islanders another step closer to title

Division 2

Minster closed in on promotion with a five-wicket victory against Chestfield.

The Islanders need two wins from their last four games to clinch the title but could go up this weekend if they beat OD CUACO and other results go their way.

Chestfield chose to bat but were soon in trouble with Dominic Chambers and Joseph Mitchell falling cheaply to Kai Appleby (4-19).

Conor Moldrich made 26 while Neil Gowers hit an unbeaten 62 from 87 balls, with 11 fours and a six, as the visitors were bowled out for 165.

James White (2-35) offered good support to Appleby while Dan Masters and James Thompson chipped in with a wicket each. Prolific Minster opener Fabian Cowdrey had a rare failure with the bat, bowled by Lewis Wain for one.

But Sean Irvine stepped up to the plate with 83 not out from 70 balls, including 10 fours and three sixes, as Minster won inside 26 overs.

Captain George Duggan said: “It was tough because of the conditions on Saturday and it could have been a bit of a leveller.

“It was proper windy, we couldn’t communicate on the pitch, and there was a danger that someone could go after our bowlers when they were batting with the wind.

“We were expecting a couple to chance their arm and we could have been chasing a score of 200 plus but it never really happened.

“All credit to the lads bowling into the wind.

“Kai took four wickets and James got a couple.

“It was a tough old job for them but they did exceptionally well. “We lost Fab for one and I got out soon after but Sean batted very well and took control of the game, seeing it through.” Sidcup moved above Ashford into the second promotion spot after beating OD CUACO by 52 runs in a match reduced to 40 overs per side.

Opener Sam Lockwood hit a lively 44 from 30 balls, including nine fours, while skipper Mat Kilbey top-scored with 55 off 66 deliveries as the hosts closed on 225-7.

Rohan Patel, who dismissed Kilbey, finished with figures of 4-47.

Tim Dawes (2-26) removed CUACO’s openers in single figures and while Chris Webster (66) and captain

Nick Worsley (45) rallied, five wickets for Daniel Corbett saw them all out for 173.

Dartford’s outside chances of promotion effectively ended with defeat by struggling Orpington.

A win would have kept Darts in a five-way fight for the runners-up spot but they lost by six wickets.

Openers Malinda Thotiwilage (81) and Suraj Johal (37) shared a good opening stand but tailender Max Luckett (24 not out) was the only other player to contribute as Dartford closed on 208-9.

Luckett took the early wicket of Alex Watts but Pablo Sterling (43) and Phillip Robinson (65 not out) batted nicely as Orpington completed their win with just over three overs to spare.

Whitstable’s relegation was confirmed after losing to fellow strugglers Old Wilsonians.

The league’s bottom side have lost 13 of their 14 games, with the other fixture abandoned. They’re now 86 points behind third-bottom Wilsonians with only 72 to play for after another tough day.

Put into bat, Whitstable battled to 115-9 in 35 overs. The bowlers had some joy before the visitors completed a five-wicket win in the 29th over.