Title races are all but done and dusted Indoor cricket Pair remain on track to claim winter prize Golf

So superior are the runaway leaders of all three divisions of the Pharon Indoor Cricket League it looks as if championship issues will be settled long before the season closes on March 24.

Following the First Division example set by Canterbury 1 (they play in the county finals on Sunday) are Chestfield and Worth.

After seven Division 2 victories in a row, undefeated Chestfield will have had three weeks off before they next meet Canterbury 2 – one of several promotion contenders – on February 10.

Top of Division 3, league newcomers Worth scored their eighth win in nine matches.

Their first four batsmen were all not out as they successfully chased Canterbury 3’s total of 89, with five balls remaining. Malik, Anwar and Rangeswaran reached the 20s.

Behind Worth are a cluster of teams led by Street End 2, the division’s fastest scorers, and Faversham.

With Stephen Alexander and Aaron Ferris both making 29, lowly Reculver were all out for 100 against Street End.

Thanks to Ed Glover, who retired on 27, Matt Pryse (23not) and Bailey Kite (19), Street End timed their reply to perfection and, with four wickets in hand, won with three balls left.

The all-round feats of Andrew Machin helped Faversham crush Sturry 2 by four wickets.

Despite Ben Holliday’s 25, Sturry were bowled out for 57 in six overs. Having been struck for four consecutive threes in his first over, Machin completed a triple wicket maiden in the next.

He then opened Faversham’s innings and carried his bat for 24.

In Division 2, Canterbury 2 and Sturry 1 narrowed the gap behind Chestfield with wins over Margate and Harbledown respectively.

Liam Durrant (28 not) and Paul Steer (27) defied the bowling efforts of Margate’s Jamie Dewell (3-25) for Canterbury to total 113-4.

Margate hit back with the bat, Josh Williamson, Harry and Daniel Carter and Dewell passing 20, but James Mcvittie had the final say with 2-30.

Sturry 2 won by 41 runs, dismissing Harbledown for 60 after totalling 101. n The Kent Academy stages the county finals on Sunday, starting at 9.30am when Canterbury play Eastry Ravens, the Shepway and District champions.

The final is scheduled for 5.15pm.

Results Divison 2

Sturry 1 101 (B. Marshall 23, J. Fagg 16; Arjun 2-16); Harbledown 60 (H. Roberts 17). Sturry won by 17 runs. Canterbury 2 113-4 (L. Durrant 28not, P. Steer 27, C. Roberts 17; J. Dewell 3-25); Margate 101 (H. Carter 21, J. Dewell 22, J. Williamson 20; J. Mcvittie 2-30). Canterbury won by 12 runs.

Division 3

Reculver 100 (S. Alexander 29, A. Ferris 29); Street End 2 103-2 (E. Glover 27ret, M. Pryse 23). Street End won by four wickets. Sturry 2 57 (B. Holliday 25; A. Machin 3-12); Faversham 58-2 (A. Machin 24ret). Faversham won by four wickets. Canterbury 3 89 (W. Trafford 21, C. Gooderham 23; A. Malik 2-19); Worth 92-0 (A. Malik 26ret, Rangeswaran 26ret, K. Anwar 26not). Worth won by six wickets. Jacqueline Mount & Elizabeth Berry remain the pacesetters in Canterbury Golf Club’s ladies’ Winter Tournament. The tournament comprises five rounds with five different formats and Mount & Berry head the field of 12 pairs after three rounds, closely followed by Gillian Soutar & Cath Smith with Jacklyn Barons & Alison Kingston in third place. The pair consolidated their position at the head of the field in round three, storming the course to emerge clear winners in a Foursomes competition with a highly impressive 39 points. Second, 10 points behind were Caroline Collins & Lyn Lee and in third place were Jacklyn Barons & Alison Kingston on 28. There’s still all to play for in the final two rounds the next of which is a Greensomes competition being played on Sunday, February 24. n St Stephen’s Golf Society enjoyed an excellent day at Westgate where the weather was kind to them considering the time of year. There was some impressive scoring with all but one of the field topping 31 points, and two of them over 40 points. The winner was 17-handicapper Pat Dawkins who finished on 42 points one clear of new member Errol Loch, playing off 12. Third was Ian Jackson on count back with 38 playing off 17. Only one of the nearest-the-pin prizes was won which was on the fifth and went to skipper Mike Barham. Three players won the twos club – Barham, Dave Taylor and Pat Dawkins, who decided to make it a roll-over to the next month.

Thursday, January 31, 2019 Kentish Gazette (KG) www.kentonline.co.uk