Cricket: Blackheath’s lead cut after 76-run defeat to Sevenoaks Vine

Blackheath’s lead at the top of the Kent Premier League was cut to 18 points as Sevenoaks Vine claimed a 76-run win at The Vine on Saturday.

Club skipper Chris Willetts lost his tenth league toss of the season and Blackheath were asked to field. 

In spite of the heat, a lack of movement off the pitch and an outfield in desperate need of some rainfall, Blackheath would have been happy with their early efforts. 

Returning Kent seamer Ivan Thomas wasn’t able to make any early inroads but Jahid Ahmed (4-37) did remove the dangerous John Bowden. The game was in the balance at 77-1 after 17 overs but the next period was to belong to the visiting team. 

A flurry of three crucial wickets, two picked up by Tanweer Sikander (2-41) and the other by James Hands – thanks to a diving catch by Willetts – left the score at 101-4.

The next wicket did not come until the 42nd over by which point a partnership of 155 had made the total considerably more daunting. 

The final score could have been more but Mehdi Abbas, Ahmed and Thomas all proved difficult to get away.

Chasing 279 was always going to be a tough ask, especially as a dry pitch began to crumble. 

George Wells (35) was unfortunate to be bowled off his thigh pad and Tanweer Sikander (37) followed as he was caught at long off to leave Blackheath 106-3. 

Charlie Speller (50) and Richard Fleming (16) provided some hopebut Blackheath required 90 from their final 10 overs. 

The loss of Jahid Ahmed and Mehdi Abbas in the same over killed any hopes of a tight finish. Club crawled over 200 in order to pick up a third vital batting point.

IMAGE BY KEITH GILLARD