Kumaran inspires Bromley

You won't catch any Bromley player cursing the National Health Service today as they celebrate their progress into the second round of club cricket's premier knockout tournament.

The Kent League team squeezed home by five runs against Eastcote in a tense first-round match in the £12,000 Evening Standard Challenge Trophy thanks largely to allrounder Alistair Ramsey, who hit 72, and batsman Kumaran Ramanathan.

The latter had to be taken to nearby Mount Vernon Hospital after being hit on the head.

But he came back in time to help put on 13 runs for the last wicket as Bromley made 163.

That stand proved vital as Eastcote finished five runs short, leaving Bromley a plum home tie in round two against former Challenge Trophy winners Brondesbury on 17 June.

Hornsey batsman John Carroll was the lone centurion in the weekend's 24 first-round matches in the prestigious Sunday tournament which features the London area's 112 leading teams. Carroll hit 107 out of 198 for 9 as Hornsey beat Hayes.

First-round results

Ilford (201-8) bt Beddington (127) by 74 runs, Ickenham (65-4) bt Beckenham (64) by 6 wkts, Beaconsfield (89-5) bt Marlow Pk (88) by 5 wkts, Basingstoke (131-9) bt Reigate P (127) by 1 wkt, Old Act (152-4) bt Buckhurst H (151) by 6 wkts, Bromley (163) bt Eastcote (158-9) by 5 runs, Bickley Pk (203-3) bt Brentw'd (101) by 102 runs,Brentham (206-7) bt Chipperf'd (90) by 116 runs, Dulwich (332-6) bt Cheam (124) by 208 runs, Chingford bt Bishops Stortford on walkover. Radlett (219-4) bt Dorking (128) by 91 runs, Cockfosters (134-5) bt Orpington (133) by 5 wkts, Old Whits (247-8) bt S Woodford (123) by 124 runs, S Hampstead (164-3) bt O Mid-Whits (163-9) by 7 wkts, Purley (222) bt Sidcup (159) by 63 runs, Old Emanuel (80-6) bt Worcester Pk (79) by 4 wkts, Woodford W (171-9) bt Ashford (88) by 83 runs, Wokingham (205-5) bt N Mymms (195) by 10 runs, Spencer bt Hayes (Middx) on walkover, Sutton (204) bt HSBC (142) by 62 runs, Shenfield (194-8) bt St Albans (192) by 2 wkts, Hemel H (242-7) bt Staines & Laleham (164) by 78 runs, Hornsey (198-9) bt Hayes, Kent (99) by 99 runs Playing Sunday: RACS v Dartford