Bexley Cricket Club returned to winning ways with victory over newly promoted Canterbury.

Having been knocked out of the ECB National Club Championship, followed by a defeat in the Kent Premier League at Minster, Captain Matt Stiddard wanted a response from his team and got it with good performances from both his bowling and batting units.

Although Canterbury won the toss and elected to bat, they didn’t find scoring runs easy against Kent bowler Jas Singh and newcomer Jamie Batten. The latter removed Liam Durrant then Singh bowled Duncan Moore. Isaac Dilkes scored 22 before Singh claimed him for his second victim of the afternoon.

Italian international Anthony Mosca put up resistance however Ben Marsh and Adam Lysaught both fell cheaply to Bexley’s overseas player Jack Sinfield. Billy Amaouche scored 26 in a 38 run partnership with Mosca, then Lewis White scored 23, but both fell to Freddie Foster.

At 172 for 7, with over seven overs still remaining, Canterbury still had hopes of finishing on something close to 200 but Syan Bulathsinhala and Kyran Millard fell cheaply before Mosca was last out for 64. Foster finished with 3 for 33, Batten 2 for 32, Sinfield 2 for 38 and Singh 2 for 45.

Although Ben Aldridge was dismissed quickly by Mosca, and Shaun Evans was trapped LBW on the back foot to a Lysaught delivery that kept low, opener Aiden Griggs found a willing ally in Calum Basey and they put on 76 together before Basey was bowled by Bulathsinhala for 39.

Griggs reached his half century with his second six of the innings, a straight hit off Dilkes, but when he was deceived by Mosca for 59, there was still work to do with 41 required from ten overs. Seven runs of the next four overs meant that 34 were still needed off the last six however, Stiddard and George Haley didn’t panic and they took nine, ten and fourteen respectively from the next three overs before taking the single required to win by six wickets with two and a half overs remaining.

Stiddard finished on 38 not out while Mosca returned the best bowling figures of 2 for 31.

Surprisingly after just three games, only reigning champions Lordswood remain unbeaten and Bexley’s victory eased them into second place.