Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Bennett eases champions home
Kent Village League
Paul Bennett hit an unbeaten century to lead Wingham to an impressive nine-wicket victory over Selling in Division 1.
The defending champions were set a target of 206 and eased home in 31 overs, led by opener Bennett who made exactly 100, with 14 fours and four sixes.
He and Brandon Tanton (48) added 97 for the first wicket before Jason Cork (41 not out) joined him in a stand of 112 for the second.
Lewis Caruana (3-44 in nine overs) and Harry Mansell (2-36 in seven) had earlier helped limit Selling to 205-8.
Leeds & Broomfield head the table on 23 points, with Wingham, Egerton and Harbledown all on 22.
Harbledown kept up their title challenge with a five-wicket success against 2015 champions Sheldwich.
Opening pair Jamie Vant-harrison (9-0-33-4) and Toby Vaughan (9-0-35-4) quickly had Sheldwich in trouble and, coming on first change, Robert Campbell (2-4 in 1.2 overs) continued the good work as the hosts were 92 all out in just 20.2 overs.
Matt Hammond was the one batsman the visitors could not remove, finishing 42 not out.
Harbledown slumped from 29 without loss to 58-5 in reply before an unbroken stand between Neil Turner (29) and Hannan Hossain (13) saw them home in 17.3 overs.
Littlebourne lost out to Stone-in-oxney after an entertaining contest which produced 537 runs.
Bourne opener Buzz Gould hit eight fours and six sixes on his way to 78 (33 balls) as he and brother Sully (17) added 93 but they then slumped to 144-8 before Thomas Anderson (56), Robbie Loomer (44) and last man Shaun Loomer (30 not out) helped push the total to 266.
Stone skipper Nick Maitland (95) then led his team’s reply and backed up by good knocks from Owen Piper (65 not out) and Stuart Earle (50), the visitors got home by six wickets in the 38th over.
Ash (230-9) beat Bapchild (155) by 75 runs and are sixth while bottom club Street End conceded their home game with Egerton.
Tyler Hill recorded their first win in Division 2 after dismissing visitors Worth for just 68.
Opening pair Richard Keir (6-11 in 7.5 overs) and Brett Marshall (4-11 in nine) did all the damage reducing Worth to 23-9 before Umar Syed (11 not out) and last man Jonathan Bishop (24) added 45.
Tyler Hill had made 143, opener Keir (37) top scoring while No.9 Stephen Wilkinson added 32.
Norton were pipped by two runs in a high-scoring contest against Kings Hill in Division 4.
Opener and skipper Graham Hutchins finished undefeated on 132 as Kings Hill totalled 247-2 and in reply, Norton reached 245-5 with Paul Kennard hitting 80 and B Hogan 70.
Wingham 2nds conceded their home match with Teston.
Chestfield kept up their promotion challenge in Division 5 after sweeping to a 144-run win over Little Chart.
Joe Whittington (58 not out) and Sam Robson (30) top scored with the bat and a total of 39 extras helped lift the Chestfield total to 247-7.
Little Chart were 103 all out in reply, with Daniel James (4-18 in 6.5 overs), Lewis Wain (3-24 in six) and Rishi Milward-bose (2-16 in five) all bowling well.
Boughton-under-blean went down by 105 runs to Holborough Anchorians despite Buddhika Gamage taking 5-17 in 6.3 overs to help restrict the home side to 203. The visitors closed on 98-9 in reply.
Henry Roberts top scored with 85 as Harbledown 2nds compiled a match-winning total of 202-8 against St Nicholas and Sarre, who made 182 in reply (Subhradeep De Sarkar 3-23 in nine overs).
Exiles-at-stelling Minnis eased past Littlebourne 2nds by 105 runs, scoring 214-5 before dismissing their opponents for 109.
Sturry received a walkover against Horton Kirby 2nds in Division 6.