Broadstairs eased to a 146 run victory to complete a double over Leeds and Broomfield.
On a warm and dry afternoon that would always favour the batting side, the decision for skipper Matt Hardy was a straightforward one. The batters did not let him down with openers Alex Hogben and Nathan Fox getting proceedings off to a solid start with a 52-run partnership. When Hogben was bowled for 18, Jay Basu took over at the crease and he and Fox looked untroubled for the next 28 overs, piling on runs seemingly at will at a rate of knots, It was fitting that they both reached their centuries within just a few balls of one another although they were then sequentially dismissed within three balls shortly after reaching their respective milestones.
By now, the damage had been done but there was still the best part of 10 overs left to play and Jake Benfield (53) and Matt Hardy (22) took the score on to 300 and beyond before the innings reached its conclusion. Eventually, the hosts finished on 311-5 with a near-perfect innings laying the foundations for a victory that would leave them in 6th position and all-but guarantee safety from relegation as the league moves into the final phase of the season.
The reply from Leeds and Broomfield faltered early on when Oliver Frewin trapped Clarry McCague in his first over. However, the combination of Max Aitken and Ryan Tillia attacked the target with some vigour and in the 18th over, the visitors had raced to 95-1 and Broadstairs were beginning to wonder whether they had been a little too complacent having posted such a large total. However, when Aitken was caught by George Kidd off the bowling of Jake Benfield, this was the start of a demise that started quite steadily but accelerated towards the end with the visitors losing their final 8 wickets for just 70 runs.
Special mention to Matthew Frewin (4-22) and Freddie Corner 3-25 and George Kidd for a superb diving catch off the bowling of Kidd Senior to dismiss Ed Scrivens.
Next week, Broadstairs travel to Holmesdale in what promises to be a tough and absorbing encounter with the home fixture earlier in the season having finished in a tie.