Young Kent all-rounder Jaydn Denly played a starring role as Whitstable thrashed Tunbridge Wells in the Kent League Premier Division on Saturday.
Denly, 20, offered 110 in an innings that included 10 fours and four maximums, sharing a 131-run stand with dad Sam Denly (35) – Whitstable’s skipper – as they helped them recover from 19-3 to post 229-8.
Matthew Barker (2-36) was among the wickets for the home team.
Denly Jr also delivered figures of 5-23 from 10 overs to leave Tunbridge Wells 114 all out despite Barker (29) offering some late resistance for Tunbridge Wells, who have now dropped to fifth.
Second-placed Bexley beat second-bottom Sevenoaks Vine by four wickets.
Bradley Hope (66) led the way in Sevenoaks’ score of 185-9 while Shaun Evans (3-11) and Fraser McWhinnie (3-34) claimed scalps.
In Bexley’s successful run-chase, Ben Aldred (41) top scored before Zeph Netherway’s 28 from 19 balls got them across the line with five overs to spare.
It left the efforts of Tom Richards (2-23) in vain.
Bexley are level on points with St Lawrence & Highland Court, in third, who were six-wicket home winners over basement boys Lordswood.
Teenager Thomas Elworthy (3-26) and spinner Thomas Copestake (3-30) each did well as Lordswood were limited to 167 all out despite captain Calum MacLeod’s 53.
Legendary former Kent all-rounder Darren Stevens then blasted 75 not out from just 45 deliveries to get them home in the 32nd over to leave the efforts of Lewis Dale (2-30) in vain.
Both Bexley and St Lawrence & Highland Court are four points behind Blackheath after the leaders’ 62-run victory at Minster.
Skipper George Wells (48) and Jas Bassan (35 not out), batting at No.9, impressed in the away side’s 174 all out. James Speer (3-38) the pick of the bunch for Minster.
Chris Piesley was unbeaten on 23 in the hosts’ run-chase but ex-Kent bowler Arafat Bhuiyan’s figures of 5-29 off 10 overs left them dismissed in 29 overs.
Fourth-placed Hayes saw off hosts Bromley by 69 runs.
There were half-centuries for Rory Low (66 not out), Aaron Burrage (54), Finlay Baker (53) and opener Will Harby (51) during Hayes’ 268-8 from their allocation.
Aditya Kumar returned figures of 3-39 as he was the pick of the home bowlers.
In reply, overseas player Sean Thompson’s 59 gave Bromley hope, only for William MacVicar (4-28) to leave them well short of their target.
