Pressure mounts for Kent leaders

Alex Blake blasts ton for Beckenham © Getty Images

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A shock defeat for Hartley by Sevenoaks Vine has created a mouth-watering contest at the top of the Shepherd Neame Kent Cricket League with just six points separating the three leading contenders.

Hartley's lead at the top has been cut to just four points while a win at the Nevill for Bromley moves them to third, just two points behind Beckenham who successfully chased at Lordswood thanks to a magnificent century from Kent youngster Alex Blake.

Sandwich Town improved their chances of survival at Premier level with an excellent win over Gore Court. Gore Court invited their hosts to bat first and made early inroads into the top of the Sandwich batting. At 75 for five Sandwich looked in serious trouble but Leon Johnson had other ideas as he crafted a fine 117 and was well supported by Robert Goatham with an unbeaten 53 as Sandwich built up to 248 at the close.

Gore Court appeared to be in command at 139 for two with Chris Piesley and Kevin Jones settling in well. Batting heroes Johnson and Goatham turned bowling heroes by removing Piesley and Jones and Goatham also removed the dangerous McCague for a duck leaving Gore Court on the back foot.

Craig Spanton worked hard as ever returning 4-46 from his 15 as Gore Court slid to 214 all out in the 54th over to produce an invaluable twenty points for Sandwich.

Beckenham, who previously this season have found chasing problematic were set a tough ask by Lordswood. Beckenham invited Lordswood to bat and after a steady start, Peter Stock and Craig Ervine both reached fifties and a flurry from the lower order took Lordswood to a competitive total of 267 for seven. A half century from Chris Isles saw Beckenham set a solid platform for Alex Blake.

Blake struck seven sixes and eleven fours in a magnificent unbeaten 130 and a quick fire 46 from Leigh Walker ensured a seven wicket victory for Beckenham with three overs remaining.

On a slightly damp track at the Nevill, Bromley found runs hard to come by and only Nadeem Shahid with 55 made a significant contribution to a modest total of 173 for nine in their 55 overs. Invited to bat first, Bromley found going hard against a steady Tunbridge Wells attack.

Following the dismissal of Butterfill for 30 and Shahid for 55, Bromley were rescued from 134 for nine by a dogged 32 by Nick Bluett, well supported by his brother Michael to add some respectability to a Bromley total of 173 for nine.

Ruel Braithwaite, 4-28 and Matt Dennington 3-27 then carved their way through the top seven with only 54 on the board to leave Tunbridge Wells in disarray. They could not recover and were soundly beaten by 79 runs.

Sevenoaks Vine moved away from the danger zone by defeating league leaders Hartley by three wickets. Batting first, Hartley could only muster 157 but made Sevenoaks Vine work hard for the runs, but they reached the target with three wickets in hand.

At Highland Court, St Lawrence were unable to chase 249 set by Blackheath and had to settle for a losing draw at 212-8 which puts them back at the bottom on equal points with Sandwich who are in 9th due to more wins