Cricket: Blackheath increase lead at top of Kent Premier League

Blackheath increased their lead at the top of the Kent Premier League with a 20-run win over Bromley Common.
Club won the toss and looked to replicate the previous weekend’s faultless batting display. 

It was obvious from the early exchanges that would be more difficult than Blackheath would have liked. Despite being 50-0 from the first 10 overs with George Wells (27) and Shahzaib Hassan (26) seemingly set, none of the top four would go on to make a significant contribution. 

Bromley Common, bottom at the start of play, clawed back some momentum and significantly reduced the batsmen’s rhythm, seeing Blackheath 101-3 at the halfway point. 

With the top four all falling for less than 30, it was left for Charlie Speller (50) and Mehdi Abbas (36) to reach a competitive total. 

Having six wickets in hand with 10 overs to go meant Blackheath had their sights on 250-plus, but the acceleration never came. It was left to Ivan Thomas, coming in at nine, to hit a huge six into the tennis courts and drag Blackheath to 230-7.

The Bromley innings got off to the perfect start as Jahid Ahmed trapped Oliver Hickford LBW with the first ball of the innings. The potent trio of Kent seamer Thomas (2-33), Ahmed (1-36) and Tanweer Sikander (1-32) would be tricky for any side to handle but on a wicket that favoured the slower bowlers it was Abbas (1-32) with the vital second wicket. 

Opening batsman Toby Finzel (95) stood the test of time and ensured that the match remained in the balance before he was finally bowled by Thomas. 

Hassan’s neat 10-over spell (1-37) put Blackheath definitively on top. Despite needing 60 from the last six overs, the Common lower order still made a good fist of it ending on 210-7. 

Blackheath are 15 points ahead of Sandwich Town and Bickley Park after seven games. It is Bexley away next Saturday before a home tie in the last 32 of the National Knockout Cup against Sussex champions Roffey CC on Sunday.