Blackheath CC's 1st XI will play Premier League cricket once again in 2011 after securing the points required for promotion with one league game remaining. An inauspicious yet enthralling afternoon which saw Blackheath suffer a heavy defeat at Beckenham also saw Hythe mount a late rally on the south coast to deny nearest challengers Sandwich the victory they required to go into the last game of the year with any chance of being promoted.

Earlier Blackheath skipper Chris Willetts had won the toss at Foxgrove Road and despite the midweek deluge and everything about the match conditions suggesting he should elect to bowl, he elected to bat in the knowledge that only allowing Beckenham to collect a maximum of 16 points from the game effectively ended their chances of promotion.

Despite some early signs that setting a large total would be hard work, Blackheath started well and had put on 35 for the first wicket before Zobie Sharif fell for a well compiled 27. Aaron Alley and Alex Senn then rallied a little as the divots in the wet pitch began to take effect but the score was at 58 when Alley fell to a ill-judged shot. Senn (27), Jack Ford (17) and Jahid Ahmed (18) offered some brief resistance but the difficulty of the drying pitch, the accurate and well-suited Beckenham attack and a disappointing level of application from the Blackheath batters meant that the visitor's innings ended on a disappointing 125 all out, the only consolation being that getting to 125 had secured at least one point from the game.

Blackheath needed early wickets to put their opponents under pressure but the usually potent opening pair of Ruel Brathwaite and Jahid Ahmed rarely threatened as the slow wicket had now flattened out. Ahmed did pick up one Beckenham opener, but it was the introduction of James Hands who produced the most flutters in the home changing room as his accurate left-arm spin was asking a lot of questions and producing a lot of pressure - pressure which eventually got too much for the Beckenham captain who holed out to Ruel Brathwaite at wide long on with the score on 29.

The Blackheath players could be forgiven for imagining that they may be in for a tight finish at that point, but the Beckenham number 3 and 4 had other ideas and they counter-attacked with great effect. Despite the odd chance, Blackheath would not take another wicket and therefore left the pitch disheartened, only having taken 1 point from the game.

That 1 point meant that Beckenham were certainly out of the running for promotion as they could now only finish level with Blackheath on points. Even if the collected 20 points on the final weekend of the season and Blackheath none, Blackheath would be promoted having won 2 more games.
All eyes (and ears) now turned to Hythe CC where the south coast relegation probables were entertaining Sandwich who had started the day in 3rd place, 31 points behind Blackheath.

Telephone updates from the Hythe club house suggested an intriguing game: Hythe were cruising at 120-1 from 24 overs chasing 201, but the next call saw them reduced to 135-6. A later call got an update of 175-9 and Blackheath were resigned to going into the last game needing 8 points to secure promotion - albeit with no little confidence of doing so.

Another later, hopeful call produced the scarcely believable news that Hythe had scrambled a tie against Sandwich, finishing on exactly the same score of 201-9. This meant Sandwich got 10 points from the game, and could no longer catch Blackheath.

A strange, disjointed and largely unfitting way for a side to get promoted but Blackheath's young and relatively new side can now look forward to Premier League cricket again in 2011. The side's achievements have been solid and simple rather than spectacular but in a way that is pleasing as the Club can so often be accused of playing extremely well in patches, but struggling to sustain a consistency over the long haul. Dogged by inconsistent availability and having to battle against the season-long tag of "promotion certainties" which has led to raised games from opposition sides (interestingly 1st placed Sibton Park haven't had a single draw this year), the Club's achievements should not be underestimated.

There have been many lessons to learn this season but all players who have contributed and the management of the club can take great pride in being promoted at the first time of asking. With a side full of players with their best years still in front of them, the Club can look forward to the 2011 season with excitement and optimism.