Park, as tradition dictates, bowled first in our traditionally toughest test of the year against a strong Hospital side in the usual 40 over match. Dave and Craig Partridge opened the bowling and despite a difficult gusting cross wind, bowled immaculately from the offset, restricting the usually expansive stroke play of the Bexley openers. With barely a run coming at Craigs end, brother Dave made the vital breakthrough, clean bowling Gobin to set the home side on 18 for 1 in the 8th over. After ten overs, Dave Robotham replaced Craig and inspired by the openers, he carried on in the same vein, giving them nothing to hit. In fact Daves first loose ball resulted in the second wicket falling when Ramsammy slammed the ball to Craig at cover who took a very smart catch to put Bexley on 26 for 2. The two Daves continued their miserly spell and the confidence of the Park players was growing with every over. Dave Partridge bowled out his 8 overs in one go, and wasn't hit for a boundary until his very last over, to be replaced by Roger 'Student Grant' Weston. After a shaky first couple of deliverys Roger quickly got into a good rythmn and bowled Stewart with his fourth ball to put the home side on 51 for 3 in the 18th over. Dave Robothams legs carried him through 8 quality overs without a break and he finally gave way to Terry Shannon. Despite, the batsmen trying to get after the bowling, Roger and Terry kept things very tight and the batsmens frustration showed soon afterwards. With Skipper Fowdy bowling a running mix up resulted in Heslop being run out, with Fletch scrambling the ball back for the Darran to take the stumps, Bexley at 92 for 4. In the same over, the 5th wicket went down with Darran bowling Williams for a duck to put Bexley on 93 for 5 after 30 overs. Paul Thompson took over the bowling at the other end and after being hit for a couple of boundarys, got his revenge by having Bexley Skipper Gosine stumped by Bru. With Bexley now really going for it at 141 for 6, Craig Partridge returned from the top end. Next over, Thommo struck again, once again Bru stumping the dangerous Fisher to put the oppo on 146 for 7. At the other end Craig was straight back into his stride and bowled Crooks with no further run added (146 for 8). Bexley finished their innings on 158 for 8 after their 40 overs.
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Craig Partridge | 8 | 1 | 20 | 1 | |
| Dave Partridge | 8 | 3 | 27 | 1 | |
| Dave Robotham | 8 | 2 | 16 | 1 | |
| Roger Weston | 5 | 1 | 23 | 1 | |
| Terry Shannon | 4 | 0 | 25 | 0 | |
| Darran Fowdy | 4 | 0 | 27 | 1 | |
| Paul Thompson | 3 | 1 | 16 | 2 |
Buoyed by the superb bowling display, and refreshed by a resplendant tea, the Park batsmen were in good heart as they set after the Bexley total, at a required rate of almost 4 an over. Dave Fletcher and Dave Brupacher opened up the batting but it was to be an early disappointment as Fletch edged behind to depart for 3 and Park on 5 for 1 in the fourth over. Kenny Robotham strode out at no.3 and was soon off the mark with a boundary, and the partnership was under way. Just as they looked like they were getting a start, the parnership was over as Bru edged behind in identikit fashion to Fletch, and departed for 5 with Park at 18 for 2 after 8 overs. Gannon came in at no.4 to join Kenny and also got off the mark with a boundary. Skipper Gosine came on to bowl and in his second over had Kenny caught behind trying to pull a ball that came on to him a bit too quickly. With Park now wobbling at 31 for 3 in the 14th over, Skipper Fowdy joined the fray at no.5. With Gosine moving the ball all over the place the batsmen looked for runs at the other end. Some good running between the wickets saw Park increase the over rate to the required level as this pair scampered the 1's, 2's and odd 3. With 30 added, the parnership came to an end as Gannon was bowled for 16 to leave Park on 61 for 4 in the 21st over. This was to turn into double disaster as Thommo, up next at no.6 was out second ball, unluckily caught off his gloves down the leg side for 0, Park 62 for 5. Craig Partridge stepped up to the oche at no.7 and he and the skipper restored order to proceedings as they once again brought the run rate back up to speed. Again good running between the wickets was the order of the day, punctuated by the occasional boundary. Just when the Park dressing room was getting its hopes up again, heads went down as the Skipper was bowled by Stewart. Another typical Captains knock from Darran (How many times have I written that ?) of 31 and Park 89 for 6 in the 29th over. Dave Robotham strode in at no.8 and straight away hit a boundary, only to be bowled next ball for 4 to leave Park on 93 for 7 and still in the 29th over. Craig took this as his cue to start the big hitting as brother Dave joined him at the crease. Again mixing good running with boundary hitting, Dave with two super straight fours and Craig with two massive sixes. With these two at the crease it was Game On again ! Once again, just as the Park faithful were running out of fingernails the partnership was broken, Dave caught and bowled by Stewart for 10 and Park on 123 for 8 after 35 overs. Roger Weston came in at no.10, for a nerve racking first innings of the season. He quickly got off the mark with 2 and then sensibly gave Craig as much strike as possible. With Craig hitting the boundarys and Roger turning the one's into two's this turned into another little gem of a partnership. Three overs and 26 runs later, Park were on the brink of success. With two overs left, there were 10 more runs required, but then Roger was bowled by Stewart for 2 to leave Park on 149 for 9, with 11 balls to score 10 runs for victory. Out strode Terry Shannon with the unenviable task of trying to see the over through, with the Bexley field closing in. Stewart ran in to bowl, and made it a jaffa as he knocked the stumps over to win the match for Bexley. The Park finished on 149 All Out with Terry out for 0 and Craig unbeaten with a fantastic 51.
This was a superb finish to a great game (once again) and Park are getting closer and closer to beating this strong Bexley Hospital team who used to regularly hand out drubbings to the visitors. A superb bowling effort, the best Park bowling this correspondant has seen from All the bowlers for a long time, gave the batsmen a real chance, that they nearly took. Excellent batting in partnerships in the middle and lower orders nearly did the trick, and the value of taking the quick singles was shown once again. Not least of all, great sportsmanship from both sides make this fixture a pleasure to take part in, and one of the highlights of the Park calendar. Thanks to all involved
I would like to award the MOM collectively to all the bowlers for a great performance, but I'm going to have to narrow it down to a man who not only started the show by opening the bowling, took a great catch, and then nearly finished the show with a flourish on what must be now his favourite ground - Craig Partridge.
A good showing today numbering, Dana, Sophie and Lucy Fowdy, abley supported by Emma Fletcher and boyfriend, late arrival and tax collector Dave Weston, team groupie Bob Harbert but led all the way from the front by Chairman Al Whaley.