Park homecoming ends in defeat

Martin Barry top-scored with the bat and held a couple of catches in the field for Crowhurst Park

Losing the toss, Park were asked to bat first in this Sussex Cricket League Division Two fixture. Martin Barry and Ed Smissen built a very solid 72-run opening partnership.

Park were in danger of failing to capitalise on an excellent start, but Clive Tong and Bradley Payne steadied the ship with a good stand of 50. The big hitting Paul Lindfield joined Payne at the crease and immediately increased the tempo of the innings.

Both Lindfield (39) and Payne (19) fell in quick succession having put on a quickfire 40 partnership and Park saw out the remaining overs to reach a respectable 205-9.

Payne removed both openers to leave Findon 43-2. Paul Brookes and Richard Coleman struck in successive overs, and when Brookes had Toby Kingsbury caught superbly by Claremont School man of the match Barry at first slip, Park had Findon 110-5 and were in the ascendancy.

However, Findon’s middle order frustrated Park with a 76-run partnership, taking the visitors within 20 runs of their target. Brookes claimed his third victim and Lindfield snapped up two wickets, but it wasn’t quite enough to stop Findon getting home with a couple of overs to spare.

Standings (all played two matches): 1 Eastbourne 60pts, 2 Goring-by-Sea 52, 3 BEXHILL 43, 4 Findon 40, 5 Ifield 40, 6 St James’s Montefiore 40, 7 CROWHURST PARK 24, 8 Middleton 22, 9 Pulborough 19, 10 Glynde & Beddingham 18.

See Friday’s Hastings and Battle Observers for a full report.