Bromley stay in race for KCL crown (From News Shopper)

Bromley stay in race for KCL crown

11:34am Tuesday 23rd August 2011 in Cricket By Josh Williams

BROMLEY kept their Kent Cricket League Premier Division title hopes alive with a vital 78-run home victory over Sibton Park.

The win moves Bromley up to second in the table and although they trail current leaders Hartley by 22 points, the top two meet this weekend in the penultimate league fixture of the season.

Hosts Bromley won the toss and decided to bat first, making a slow start as openers Alex Cooper (2) and James Butterfill (0) lost their wickets after 10 balls.

But Chris Harris (101) and Miguel Barbosa (60) came in and repaired the damage, helping Bromley declare at 229-7 after 42 overs.

The home side came out and performed just as well with the ball as Harris (2-18), Grant Sheen (2-22) and Matthew Dennington (2-44) claimed a brace of wickets apiece to restrict Sibton to 151-8.

Hartley’s three-wicket victory over Sevenoaks Vine keeps them in the driving seat ahead of this weekend’s big date at Bromley.

Sevenoaks won the toss and decided to bat first and posted 198-9, but James Hockley (80) and Matthew Walker (62no) made sure Hartley reached 201-7 with four overs remaining.

Greg Bain (65), Adam Riley (40) and Jack Bell’s (57) prolific batting helped Bexley (223-7) retain their own outside championship hopes after they went third in the Premier Division table with a 27-run home triumph against Lordswood (196) at Manor Way.

Bickley Park still have relegation worries following a six-wicket defeat at fellow strugglers Tunbridge.

Visitors Bickley won the toss and decided to bat first, starting impressively as openers Richard Clinton (63) and Sean Keys (24) set the standard before they were both caught.

Chris Coulson (56no) and Gordon Darroch (43no) entered the fray and helped set a target of 240-4.

But Tunbridge batted calmly and and effortlessly to reach 241-4 with three overs to spare thanks largely to a 110-run partnership between Alexander Williams (66) and Gregor Paterson (44).

Blackheath remain in sixth after their emphatic six-wicket away victory at The Mote.

Jahid Ahmed (2-37) and Ivan Thomas (3-43) came in and bowled in devastating form, although The Mote’s Matthew White (100no) and Laurence Waters (59) helped the hosts reach 225-7 after 50 overs.

But Daniel Drummond (132no) and Chris Willets (54) came up trumps with the bat as Blackheath responded with 228-4 with five overs to spare.

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