Broadstairs lift off bottom spot

BROADSTAIRS dragged themselves off the bottom of the Kent League Division One table on Saturday thanks to a convincing first win of the season against fellow strugglers Hythe at Park Avenue.

Skipper Chris Kidd hailed the thumping nine-wicket victory as "outstanding" and was delighted with his side's performance in all aspects of the game.

Kidd told the Gazette last week that it was vital his side won all their home games from now on and Saturday's performance is hopefully the start of a good home run for the remainder of the season.

Hythe, who have struggled for runs all season long, decided to bat first, but regretted that decision as medium-pacer Martin Rattigan ripped through the middle order taking 5-54.

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Skipper Kidd also chipped in with 3-24 from 13 overs and seamer Alamgir Sheriyar only went for 15 runs off of his ten overs - four of those were maidens - as Hythe limped to a below-par 127 all out.

In reply, Broadstairs eased to their victory target thanks to Kent under-17 batsman Jake Benfield, who cracked a rapid 56 not out from 43 balls including nine fours, a not-so-rapid 46 not out from opener Alex Hogben and 24 from Bradley Ellison.

Hythe bowler Jamie Hemphrey was clattered for 54 runs off his nine overs.

Skipper Kidd said: "It was a great all-round performance, it couldn't have gone much better. We came away with 16 points and Hythe only got one, it was vital we didn't let them pick up any more bonus points and that is what I was saying to the lads, don't let them get anything else out of it.

"We need to be beating teams around us like Hythe, Folkestone and Tenterden, especially at home, so we couldn't be happier.

"Martin bowled fantastically well, he just put in on a length outside off-stump and their batsmen got drawn in and he ended up getting five wickets.

"We bowled extremely well, dropped a couple of catches but luckily they didn't come back to haunt us."

Broadstairs face a notoriously difficult trip to fifth placed Orpington tomorrow (Saturday), a ground where some enormous scores have been racked up this season, although Orpington were hammered by top-of-the-league Sandwich last weekend.

Broadstairs will be without Alamgir Sheriyar for the trip to North Kent but Andrew Bailey and Liam Narraway return to the squad, while Terry Bond gets his chance in the first team after scoring nearly 300 runs so far this term for the seconds.

Kidd is looking forward to the trip and thinks his side can pick up more points.

He added: "We have got this win under our belts and we need to kick on from here. The league is so tight that anyone can pick up points against anybody, so we have to be positive.

"Having Andrew (Bailey) back is a boost because he has been in the runs recently and the track at Orpington normally favours batsmen.

"Terry has been scoring plenty of runs for the twos so we think it is fair that he gets a go with us.

"It should be another close game but we are going there full of confidence now."