A Kent teenager and a legendary former all-rounder at the county came to the fore as St Lawrence & Highland Court maintained Minster’s winless Kent League Premier Division start on Saturday.
All-rounder Olly Curtiss, 19, steered St Lawrence to a score of 189 with his 69 while James Speer (4-34) bowled nicely for the visitors.
Away opener James Thompson’s 67 had them well-set at 137-2 at one point but Darren Stevens – now 50 and Kent’s bowling consultant – then came to the party with figures of 5-17, supported by Curtiss (3-27) to leave Minster 175 all out.
Teenager Ben Dawkins again led the charge as leaders Tunbridge Wells made it four league victories from four with a 139-run win over Bromley.
The Kent batsman, 19, struck 102 in the hosts’ 229 all out in an innings that included nine fours and a six while Oliver Butterfill (4-27) and Marcus Lilley (4-31) did the bulk of the work for Bromley in the field.
Matthew Luksich returned excellent figures of 4-4 from four overs in reply, as the away side were skittled for 90 inside 28 overs, despite 18 apiece for Sean Thompson and Ryan Cartwright.
Second-placed Blackheath were six-wicket winners over Sevenoaks Vine.
Tom Richards, batting at No.10, top scored with 51 as Vine recovered from 51-8 to get to 138 all out. Former Kent bowler Arafat Bhuiyan (3-19), Jahid Ahmed (3-32) and Niaz Khan (3-34) among the wickets.
Wicketkeeper and opener Mason Robinson’s 56 helped the hosts across the line in the 28th over despite Richards (2-36) claiming scalps.
Hayes were 10-wicket winners at second-bottom Whitstable.
They were skittled for 98 in the 34th over despite Kent all-rounder Jaydn Denly’s 31, with William MacVicar (3-13) and Alfie Peck (3-26) sharing the workload.
Hayes openers Finnan Bryan (53 not out) and William Harby (44 not out) helped them home in 16 overs.
Lordswood thumped Bexley by 103 runs at home.
There were half-centuries from captain Ed Taylor (84) and Hugh Scott (82 not out) in their 277-8 from 50 overs as Kent bowler Jas Singh returned 3-45 off 10 overs.
Oliver Smith (61) and Jamie Batten (44) offered some resolve with a ninth-wicket 63-run stand but Adeel Hussain’s fine figures of 5-34 left them all out in the 35th over.
