Park sent packing by classy Clayton

The Telham-based outfit was bowled out for 87 following an inspired spell of 7-17 from Clayton Caltsounis having earlier dismissed visitors Ifield for 116.

Winning the toss, Park skipper Colin Ayres decided to field first in the hope of utilising the damp wicket. Bradley Payne (2-27) continued where he left off the previous weekend by bowling Chris Plaister for two and trapping Raza Ali lbw to leave Ifield 22-2 off nine overs.

Clive Tong tempted Paul Clifford to edge behind and Ifield were in trouble at 28-3. A 38-run partnership between Glen Barton and Mike Morris steadied things slightly before the introduction of Paul Brookes led to the demise of Morris thanks to a sharp catch at short mid-off by Ayres.

Brookes accounted for Barton as well when he top edged to Richard Coleman (2-23), leaving Ifield struggling on 81-5. Coleman and Brookes then took three quick wickets between them and Ifield were crawling along to 89-8 off 39 overs. Matt Peters and Brookes (4-20) finished the innings off in the 50th over.

Conditions for batting were not going to get any easier and Smissen was clean bowled by Caltsounis in the fourth over. Dale Payne and Kellen Powell were also victims of Caltsounis’s accurate left arm swing bowling.

Martin Barry, unusually, hung around for little reward and when he edged one behind to give Caltsounis his fourth wicket, Park were in deep trouble at 19-4. Wickets continued to tumble and at 34-7, Park were staring at an embarrassing defeat.

Peters (8) showed some dogged determination to not give his wicket away and along with Tong, they slowly built a useful partnership of 26. Ayres, batting down the order due to injury, at least gave some respectability to the score, but the inevitable soon came with Park being bowled out in the 39th over.

Standings (all played four matches): 1 Eastbourne 120pts, 2 BEXHILL 97, 3 Goring-by-Sea 95, 4 Findon 76, 5 Ifield 71, 6 CROWHURST PARK 64, 7 St James’s Montefiore 64, 8 Pulborough 42, 9 Glynde & Beddingham 37, 10 Middleton 37.