Hartley made a superb start in their effort to reclaim the Kent Cricket League title with a seven-wicket victory over Bromley in the season’s opening round of fixtures on Saturday.

Having won the Premier Division for a third successive year in 2013, Hartley’s dominant spell came to an end last season as Sevenoaks Vine claimed a surprise triumph, while Bromley avoided the drop by just four points in a fiercely competitive relegation battle.

And that form continued into the 2015 season as a fine all-round performance from veteran James Hockley, and a solid batting display from Dan Stickels, provided Hartley with a comfortable win.

Bromley made a solid start to the match, though, with a 97-run partnership between Richard Selvey-Clinton (80) and Miguel Barbosa (50) taking the hosts to 140-3.

But the 2009 and 2010 champions were pegged back by impressive spells from James Hockley (3-53) and spinner Jack Laraman (3-41), and could only post 197-9 from their allotted 55 overs.

In reply, an opening stand of 92 between Stickels (71) and Hockley (41), combined with some fluent hitting from middle-order duo Nick Hendrie (41no) and James Thompson (33no), saw Hartley over the line with seven wickets and nine overs remaining.

Tanweer Sikandar (103 and 3-33) produced the performance of the week as Blackheath, who faded last season after challenging for the title, beat Lordswood by 64 runs.

Daniel and David Masters bowled 25 economical overs for the visitors but Sikandar was able to see off the new ball before scoring a run-a-ball century to push Blackheath to 249-8, with contributions also coming from Michael Thornley (44) and Dipayan Paul (37).

Sikandar then excelled with the ball by removing two top-order batsman for single-figure scores as Lordswood faltered at 19-3.

Chris Piesley (58) attempted to counter-attack but regular wickets for Jahid Ahmed (2-25) and Thomas Mees (2-15) ensured Lordswood were bowled out for under 200.

Exceptional spells from Jason Benn (4-24) and Adeel Malik (4-35) ensured Bexley (156ao) beat Sandwich Town (129ao) by 27 runs in a low-scoring thriller at Manor Way.

Daniel Evans and Craig Spanton both took three wickets as the visitors reduced Bexley to 80-8, but Matthew Stiddard (37) and Jasdev Bassan (38no) provided vital resistance to propel the hosts past 150.

Sandwich cruised to 90-2, but Kent’s Adam Ball dismissed both set batsman, before Benn and Malik, who made his County Championship debut for Essex last week, tore through the visitors’ lower-order to give Bexley 20 points.

Beckenham looked set to defeat Sevenoaks Vine as contributions from Chris Isles (63), Alex Blake (46) and William MacVicar (40) saw the hosts’ post 258, but the reigning champions showed their grit to hold out for a losing draw.

Adam Senn (2-34) took two quick wickets as the Vine stumbled to 44-3, only for Anthony Shales (38) to dig in and leave Beckenham three wickets short of an outright win.

Saturday’s fixtures (12pm start): Hartley v Folkestone, Lordswood v Bromley, Sandwich Town, Blackheath, Sevenoaks Vine v Bexley, Tunbridge Wells v Beckenham.

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