Skipper Sam Denly loved batting with son Jaydn Denly in Whitstable’s weekend win – even if he bizarrely forgot his name!
Kent all-rounder Jaydn, 20, played a starring role in a 115-run Kent League Premier Division victory at defending champions Tunbridge Wells.
He offered 110 in an innings that included 10 fours and four maximums, sharing a 131-run stand with Sam (35) as they helped Whitstable recover from 19-3 to post 229-8 from their allocation.
Denly Jr delivered figures of 5-23, too, to leave Tunbridge Wells 114 all out.
But while at the crease, it was the name of Kai Denly – Jaydn’s younger brother, who was in third-team action – Sam kept using.
“I really enjoyed it and I said that to him afterwards,” Sam said on the duo’s vital partnership. “It’s funny batting with him because – like all these young lads – he’s playing all these extravagant shots and I’m just digging down.
“I have batted with him a few times over the years and I would probably say that Saturday was the most enjoyable experience.
“But I kept calling him Kai! That’s my other son’s name.
“I have played with Jaydn for years, it’s probably a good four or five years we have played together, so I’ve got no idea why.
“I’m not quite sure what came over me!”
Jaydn has only played for Kent’s first team once this summer but his dad is better-placed than most to comment on the work he is putting in order to improve his game.
He said: “He has worked really hard.
“I think he has been playing really well for us with the bat. But I think he has been doing just as well with his bowling.
“He’s a great lad and is working hard so I’m a proud dad. I was speaking to my dad [Nick] and said there cannot be too many, who have got a hundred and a five-fer in the same game in the Kent League Premier Division.
“He was excellent and I’m really pleased for him.”
Tunbridge Wells had been the division’s early pacesetters, although they have now dropped to fifth, just 16 points and two positions ahead of Whitstable.
“After we got beat by Hayes, we had quite an honest conversation,” revealed Denly.
“I said to the players that we needed to change things before it was too late. We have trained really hard.
“We’re a good side and, on our day, we can beat anyone.
“Will Cook has been excellent for us. As I said to him, he’s prob-ably one of the best young seamers in the league.
“Cullan Larkin – our overseas – has been great, as well. We’re a young team, apart from myself!
“We just need to back ourselves more.”
Next up is the visit of high-fliers Bexley.
They head to The Belmont second and on a three-match winning streak, with Kent all-rounder Ekansh Singh expected to be involved for them this Saturday.
“It will be a tough game,” Denly said. “They’re a good side.
“Ekansh seems like he will be around, as Jaydn tells me, which just goes to show that we’re playing in a proper league.
“We’re at home. They have got some good players – but so do we.
“If we keep playing how we have been in the last couple of weeks, we will be fine. Obviously, you cannot win every game, especially at this stage of level.
“But we will go into Saturday confident and see where it takes us.”
St Lawrence & Highland Court, in third, were six-wicket weekend 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.
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 them level on points with second-placed Bexley.
Struggling Division 5 Hurricane side Whitstable 2nds suffered a 149-run home defeat against Sibton Park 1sts.
Max Gambrill (4-60) could not prevent Park from posting 244 all out before Fin Wratten’s unbeaten 21 proved in vain.
Promotion-chasing St Lawrence & Highland Court 2nds’ promotion prospects were dented by a 63-run loss at Old Wilsonians 1sts.
The hosts made 260-8 from 50 overs with Brad Reynolds (2-23), Richard Heywood (2-31) and Jamie Vant-Harrison (2-49) among the wickets.
Reynolds top scored with 48 but St Lawrence were beaten.
