Park pull off fine victory

Ed Smissen starred with bat and ball in Crowhurst Park's victory away to Goring-By-Sea on Saturday

The 84-run success away to bottom club Goring-By-Sea has moved Park 55 points above Sussex Cricket League Division Two’s bottom two with five games remaining.

After losing the toss on a very green, damp wicket, Park were unsurprisingly asked to bat first. An excellent spell of bowling by Barnaby Lyons caused all sorts of problems early on, however it was a run out which gave Goring their first wicket with the score on 19.

Cam Flanagan fell next ball and when Dale Payne edged Lyons behind, Park were struggling on 36-3. Runs were still being scored quickly, however, with Brad Payne and Kellen Powell clearing the boundary regularly.

Powell became Lyons’ third victim when, having been smashed on the thumb the previous ball, he got an unplayable delivery next up and was caught off the handle of the bat at first slip.

Clive Tong joined Payne and the scoring rate increased even more with Tong in superb form, smashing 55 off 23 balls to turn the game back in Park’s favour.

At 119-5 off 25 overs, Ed Smissen continued the attack and put on another quickfire 43-run partnership with Payne before Smissen was out LBW for a very useful run-a-ball 35.

Payne was looking to push on to a well-deserved 50 before he was caught in the deep for an excellent 43. Matt Peters (37 not out) continued the aggressive scoring and with his skipper Paul Brookes unbeaten on 16 at the other end, Park had the luxury of declaring at 230-8 off 45 overs.

Goring started their innings in similarly aggressive fashion before Payne clean bowled Sam Thorns for 22 with the score on 30. Payne removed the other opener Dan Kearney in his next over and then snatched a double wicket maiden to leave Goring in trouble at 46-4.

Home skipper Alex Maynard and Keiran Leeming rebuilt the innings until Smissen put an end to a very useful 62-run partnership by bowling Leeming for 18.

Maynard was still looking dangerous, however first ball after drinks, he top edged a wild swing off Flanagan to be well-caught at gully by Nick Peters for an aggressive 55.

Goring were now back in trouble and Smissen, who bowled an excellent line, took another three wickets in eight balls. It was left to Payne to finish off the innings and grab his fifth wicket with Goring all out for 146.

It was another excellent all-round performance from Park with Payne man of the match for his all-round display. Park are away to Findon in their next game this coming Saturday.