Skipper Sam Denly is urging Whitstable Cricket Club’s players to not allow a weekend home defeat to define their season.
A three-match Kent League Premier Division winning run was ended as Whitstable were edged out by 25 runs by title-chasing Blackheath.
The seventh-placed team have moved away from the relegation zone thanks to strong recent results, albeit they are some way off the summit.
“We have some good, young players and, genuinely, we think we can beat anyone on our day,” said Denly. “If you look at the league, we’re 38 points off top and 35 points ahead of second-bottom.
“What I said to the players after Saturday’s game is ‘Don’t let this game define our season’. We go to Bromley this weekend.
“Bromley, for me, is one of the nicest grounds to play at. They’re a good side but they’re beatable, like everyone is, and we’ll just need to be at our best.
“We need to make sure we’re ready.”
Cameron Wilshaw (3-25) got among the wickets as Blackheath were bowled out for 246.
The father-and-son partnership of Sam (61) and Kent all-rounder Jaydn Denly (77) – who made his Spitfires T20 Blast debut the next day – again combined nicely. But the hosts were dismissed inside the 47th over.
Denly reflected: “I’m disappointed, especially with myself, being the last wicket to go. I felt we maybe should have got us over the line but I had tweaked my hamstring.
“It just felt like a game we could have – and should have – won. But it’s a sign of how far we have come in the last month.
“They’re a strong side and we took it to the wire. Once Jaydn went, we just lost too many wickets.
“It’s frustrating but, at the same time, we’re proud of how far we have come.
“One positive is that we have taken 16 points off them. The difference this year is we are picking up our losing points.
“It’s really important in this league.”
It was the second time Sam and Jaydn had taken centre stage for Whitstable in the past three weeks, albeit they did so in a losing cause against Blackheath, having helped them to last month’s 115-run victory at defending champions Tunbridge Wells.
“It was another 100-run partnership,” Sam confirmed.
“I went out to bat with him at 66-5 and it was a bit of a rebuild. Really, I felt we had broken the back of the chase. I’ve actually really enjoyed batting with him.
“I definitely don’t have his calibre of shots! It was nice to get to bat with him for a few hours.
“With the way he bats, it allows me to bat time and just dig in.
“I don’t know how many more games we have got with him. I think we’re okay for Saturday. Obviously, he’ll be a big miss but we have got 15 or 16 first-team players.
“It will be up to the others to step up in his place.”
Wilshaw – alongside taking wickets himself – also dismissed Blackheath’s Matthew Golding. He was cruelly run out on 99 by the former Canterbury player.
On Golding, Denly said: “He batted really well.
“He rode his luck at times but he’s a funny lad out in the middle. He deserved a hundred and batted really well.
“Getting run out on 99 is never nice – but Cam has been outstanding. He’s come over from Canterbury and has fitted into the club like he has been here for years.
“He has been brilliant.”
Denly remains in limbo over where he will be this weekend, with a hamstring injury meaning he is unlikely to play for the first team.
He added: “I’m certainly not good enough to be at 60 per cent or 70 per cent in this league.
“We’ll see how I feel. If I feel like I can get through a game with the 2nds, I might do that.
“If not, I’m sure I will be with the boys at Bromley.”
Sam’s younger brother, Kent and ex-England batting all-rounder Joe Denly, is another on the treatment table.
The Whitstable captain still hopes to get the 40-year-old Kent man to turn out for the club one day but has been unsuccessful in those attempts so far.
Sam said: “He’s injured but I’m in his ear all the time!
“We’ll, hopefully, get him in at some stage, although maybe that probably won’t be this year.
“If you’re a batsman, the only way to get ready is through game-time in the middle. But he also doesn’t want to pick up injuries.
“It’s just that fine balance, isn’t it?”
Leaders St Lawrence & Highland Court were nine-wicket home winners over Bexley.
John Grewar (3-25) shone for St Lawrence in the visitors’ 135 all out before opener Dan Stickels’ run-a-ball 72 not out helped make light work of the chase.
They visit Sevenoaks Vine this weekend.
St Lawrence & Highland Court 2nds were consigned to a 53-run loss at frontrunners The Roebucks 1sts in a top-of-the-table Division 2 clash.
Shachchin Kannan (2-37) could not stop the hosts scoring 269-4 and, although Dylan Emmett contributed 54, St Lawrence were bowled out in the 46th over.
Struggling Whitstable 2nds suffered a six-wicket Division 5 Hurricane loss at Addington Village 1sts.
Andrew West’s 52 inspired them to 176 all out but the hosts raced home in the 31st over.
