Blackheath remain within a point of leaders Sevenoaks Vine after Saturday’s Kent Cricket League Premier Division success at Bickley.

The visitors won the toss and opted to bat first, but they suffered an early setback as opener Chris Willetts (0) was caught by Michael Ridley.

But Blackheath settled and a useful partnership between  Daniel Bell-Drummond (56) and Tanweer Sikandar (25) left them on 95-4.

However, only one of their remaining batsmen, Warren Lee (22), was able to reach double figures, ensuring Blackheath were dismissed for 156.

Daniel Magin (5-28) was in fine form for Bickley with the ball and also emerged as his side’s leading batsman (32), a statistic which says all you need to know about why the home side fell 47 runs short of the target.

Sikandar (4-26) and Lee (3-26) did most of the damage as Blackheath wrapped up what proved to be a relatively straightforward victory.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR PICTURE COMPILATION FROM BICKLEY V BLACKHEATH

Title holders Hartley went down to a two-wicket home defeat at the hands of Bexley, their second reverse already this season.

The defending champions made a decent enough start as openers James Hockley (31) and Dan Stickels (44) linked up to produce a solid opening partnership.

Lewis Hickford (29) was bowled by Adeel Malik (3-41) to leave Hartley on 128-5.

And even though Scott McKechnie (88no) remained at the crease, the 55 overs ran out for the hosts as they stood on 240-7.

The early departure of Matthew Stiddard (2) did little to inspire confidence the visitors could actually surpass the hosts’ tally.

That put Bexley on just 4-1, but fortnately for them by the time George Wells (43) was run out the score had climbed to 84-2.

Kashif Nizami (42) and Robert Sehmi (42) continued to make headway as their tally rose to 182-4. Sam Weller, who had already claimed the wickets of Stiddard and Sehmi, then took out Mehdi Abbas (16) and Harry Furze (2), to leave him with figures of 4-65.

However, he was unable to get the better of Malik (65no) and Bexley (241-8) picked up their first win of the season with one over to spare.

The impressive bowling skills of Daniel Christian (6-43) ensured home side Bromley (206-8) also tasted victory for the first time after seeing off the challenge of Canterbury (205).

Christian (26) and Callum Basey (56) then teamed up to put their side on 84-2.

Imran Quyyam (4-59) was in fine bowling form and when he picked up his fourth and final wicket of Richard Selvey-Clinton, Bromley stood at 144-5.

They continued to edge slowly but surely to victory and it was left to James Butterfill (11no) to fire the winning run with just under three overs remaining.

Beckenham (270-5) had to settle for a frustrating winning draw after failing to dismiss Lordswood (185-9).

Attack was the order of the day for Beckenham batsman Raza Ali Dar (108no), who hit 11 sixes off just 131 balls.

But even his sterling efforts proved in vain as Lordswood turned out to be a tough nut to crack, even though they were holding on somewhat with just one wicket left.

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