Sandwich Town skipper Jan Gray backs side to pass weekend test at high-flying Tunbridge Wells in Kent Cricket League Premier Division

Skipper Jan Gray is confident ahead of a trip to Tunbridge Wells as Sandwich Town aim to end their unbeaten Kent League Premier Division start.

Wells have set the pace alongside Bexley with four straight league wins after an opening-weekend washout.

Fifth-placed Sandwich travel to Tunbridge Wells this Saturday before they face Essex League Premier Division Wanstead & Snaresbrook the following day in The Conference Cup for the Bertie Joel Trophy.

“Tunbridge Wells is always a tough one,” said Gray, whose side edged past Sevenoaks Vine at the weekend in the league.

“They always have good players and seem to have pretty sustainable availability. They seem to get a lot of the same players out every week.

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“They actually play on a pitch that’s probably the best cricket wicket in the league. It’s a fantastic challenge for us and a lot of teams. It goes from playing on ‘club’ wickets to almost a professional wicket.

“I’m sure, if we turn up, we will win. But if we don’t turn up, they’ll probably punish us.”

Sandwich met Wanstead & Snaresbrook twice last year and will lock horns again for the first time in 2023 this weekend.

Gray said: “I missed the second game but we played them twice last year. It’s a Conference Cup game.

“I remember hearing they have something like 300 or 400 juniors and they seem like lovely people. So I’m looking forward to playing against them.”

Town go into the double-header after a two-run home success over a Sevenoaks Vine side which included Kent opener Ben Compton.

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“Our game was great,” Gray reflected. “I think we would have felt disappointed to have lost it. We should have got more than we did and, probably, we should have bowled them out for less than they got.

“But Michael Cowdrey batted beautifully (for 69 not out). He got them so close and ramped one into the river which is one of the best shots I’ve seen at Sandwich.

“It’s always nice to win those tight games.”

Opener Zach Fagg set the tone in Sandwich’s 194 all out with a 33-ball 65, which included two sixes and 11 boundaries.

Gray said: “He was brilliant. For the last couple of seasons, he seems to have found ways that work for him. I think for a few years he was a little bit hit-and-miss but, now, he’s consistently excellent.

“When he hits 60-odd off 30-odd balls, it makes it a lot easier for everyone else.”

The wicket of 29-year-old Compton was always going to be a prized one and was taken by Town’s Australian overseas James Bazley (3-48) as he removed Compton for seven.

Gray enthused: “James is a fantastic cricketer. Every week, he’s always going to contribute in a massive way.

“I think that ball showed it. He’s so good at thinking about his game because he’s played very high-level cricket. He set the field himself and got rid of another very good cricketer himself in Ben.”