Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Betts leads title charge
Kent Regional League
Street End remain on course to claim the Kent Regional League 1A East title after Paul Betts steered them to a four-wicket win at Nelson on Saturday.
The hosts posted 165-4 from 46 overs but Betts’ unbeaten 76, which included 10 fours, steered the visitors to victory with four wickets and 23 balls in hand to keep them two points ahead of Sandwich, who beat Littlebourne by 35 runs despite 54 from Bourne’s Tony Beer and 30 not out from last man Liam Green.
Ash remain in the hunt in third place after Richard Ewart’s 49 not out helped them to a sevenwicket win at home to East Langdon.
Tom Laslett and Tim Smith claimed three wickets each as the visitors were dismissed for 147 before Ewart’s knock helped Ash home inside 30 overs.
Jonathan Sargent claimed five wickets to help struggling Whitstable record a rare win against Margate,
Sargent’s 5-58 helped dismiss the visitors for 200 before an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 93 between Stewart Hollingsbee (48 not out) and Neil Atkinson (38 not out) saw the hosts home and to take them within 56 points of safety.
There were four wickets each for Andy Ford and James Isard as struggling Bossingham recorded a vital 38-run victory at home to Minster (Ramsgate), in 1B East.
Grant Sargent made 48 not out batting No.6 as the hosts made 188-5 before dismissing the islanders for 150 in reply to move 20 points clear of the drop-zone, and above Minster in the table.
Fred Gillard claimed 4- 22 as Herne Bay beat Dover Cosmopolitans by 19 runs in a low-scoring game in the same division.
Andrew Kinch’s 32 was as good as it got for Bay as they were bowled out for 117 but the visitors failed to reach three figures with Gillard supported by Dario Cummins (3-32).
Russell Griffiths cracked a superb 146 to help Canterbury 3rds to a 49-run win at Saltwood to keep up their title pursuit.
The visitors scored 268-5, with 137 of them coming for the fourth wicket between Griffiths and Mike Eeles (42 not out) before dismissing the hosts for 219 in reply, with Jamie Davis taking 3-13 off seven overs.
Hythe Green remain two points clear at the top after a two-wicket win over Sturry.
The hosts were dismissed for 117 and despite three wickets each for Bob Goddard and Mark Reynolds, the leaders made it over the line in 36 overs.
Littlebourne 3rds struggles in 1C East continued with an eight-wicket defeat at home to Nonington 3rds, for whom Paul Cork took 7-20.
Paul Spratt top scored with 36 of Bourne’s 148-9 but the visitors were able to cruise home for the loss of just two wickets with George Nobbs and Daniel McHugh making unbeaten half-centuries.
Ian Attenborough hit 73 to help Littlebourne 2nds to record a rare win in 2A East.
Visitors Mersham Sports made 214-8 before Attenborough, Neil Davey (54 not out) and Jack Parr (46) steered Bourne home by four wickets in the 40th over.
Sheldwich were handed a walkover in the Kent Invicta League Premier Division on Saturday when opponents Staplehurst – who are second in the table – conceded. Now sixth, this weekend they play host to bottom-of-the-table Stowting.
Sheldwich 2nds conceded their game against Rumwood 2nds and remain bottom of the 2nd XI Premier Division. They are away to Milstead on Saturday.