Blackheath Sweep Canterbury Aside

The 1st XI picked up their first away victory of the season with a decisive victory against newly promoted Canterbury.

Blackheath lost the toss and were asked to bowl on what could only be described as a batsman friendly track. Canterbury skipper, Isaac Dikes, seemed to have made a good decision when he and his opening partner were 70-0 from 20 overs, well on their way to building a solid platform for the rest of their batsmen. Having negotiated the pace duo of Tanweer Sikander (0-39) and Jahid Ahmed (0-42), and as they were looking to kick on, medium pacer Medhi Abbas found Dike's inside edge, bowling him for 40. The following thirty overs would showcase a lesson in the art of slower bowling as Dipayan Paul (2-28), Mohammed Ashraful (3-31) and Abbas strangled Canterbury's middle order, restricting them to 170 from 50 overs.

At first glance, this total was seemingly well below par. However, when George Wells fell in the third ball of the innings, edging one to the outstretched right hand of first slip, shudders went through the away dressing room. The ship however was settled by the ever reliable Sikander (32) and Paul (57). Ashraful added 55* and Charlie Speller 15* to see Blackheath home with 9 overs to spare.

A much needed victory leaves Blackheath just above the relegation zone and looking forward to a trip to current table toppers Bexley next weekend.