Jug Avoidance Abounds as Park Cruise to Victory

Skipper Darran Fowdy won the toss and batted first in the first home League fixture of the season, Dave Hearn and Christian O'Mahoney opening the batting. After hitting his first delivery for four, Christian copped for a low one that took his stumps. Park 9 for 1. With Skip Fowdy joining Hearnie at the crease, a pretty torrid opening session was seen off, with the Dartford bowlers attacking with some pace and bounce. Hearnie in particluar was playing the short stuff well, carving it downwards through the slips, invariably for four. Darran was gaining confidence quickly, and soon a couple of boundarys came his way. Despite giving the appearance of cautious play, Dave and Dazza were accumulating runs at a steady rate, 33 off the first ten overs, 48 off the next ten. With the PPCC crowd hushed as Hearnie approached another 50, he was suddenly bowled, suspiciously one short of the landmark, to get the jug avoiding well underway. With Park well set on 103 for 2 in the 27th over, this partnership was the very model of what this correspondant believes League batting is all about. Roger Griffiths came in at no.4 and was soon off the mark with a glorious lofted drive over mid off. Unfortunately that was to prove Rog's only scoring shot as he was bowled shortly after. Park 113 for 3. Simon Ewin joined the Skip at the crease and took part in an unusual partnership whereby Darran hit a purple patch of boundaries and the scoring rate soared, while Doc looked on appreciatively. When Simon was run out for 3 half an hour later, sacrificing his wicket for the cause and proving what a team player he is, 47 runs had been added. Another model example of League cricket for any youngsters watching (and not too busy breaking into cars round the back). Park 160 for 4, and with 9 overs left, looking for a 200 plus tally. In form Craig Partridge came in at a lowly no.6 with the scene set for a run plunder, however, with the Dartford openers returning this was not to be the case. With the Park faithful willing a clearly flagging Fowdy on to a century, and yearning for a 200 score, the runs suddenly dried up. Darran, so free hitting from 30 to 80 suddenly started to find the fielders with every shot, and craig was mis-timing it worse than a British Eurovision entry. Darran crawled to within one boundary of the holy grail, and heaved and missed and saw his stumps splayed. Out for a superb, and yet highly suspicious, 96 that had Chairman Al Whaley ringing round the jug Avoidance Committee to arrange an extraordinary meeting, and the webmaster searching for another description for a typical Darran Fowdy captains innings. Park 185 for 5, and a cherry faced Skip Fowdy retired to the attentions of his legion of admirers. Only four more runs were added as Craig departed bowled for 9, and Dave Robotham was cleaned up for a golden. After 46 overs, Park finished on 190 for 7, with Dave Fletcher and Dave Partridge both unbeaten on 0.

With the Park ranks not quite sure whether they had enough runs on the board, Paul Moss and Dave Partridge opened the bowling and were both on the mark right away. With Mossy, in tremendous form at the moment, bowling four maidens on the run, and Davey boy clean bowling Birks in the sixth over, Park were off to a flyer. Dartfordians 4 for 1. Mossy cleaned up the other opener Fentiam in his fifth over (before conceding a run). Dartfordians 12 for 2. Exell and Barnett looked like they might rescue the innings for the oppo til an extraordinary 3 wicket over from Dave Partridge. With all the batsmen deceived by Daves flight and swing and looking to drive him, three copycat dismissals followed. First Exell lofted to Craig Partridge at cover, 26 for 3. Next Barnett lofted to Mr Dependable Si Ewin at mid on, 26 for 4. Finally Cullern repeated the trick to O'Mahoney in mid-wicket to reduce the oppo to 30 for 5. As if to confirm Parks dominance, the first ball of the next over saw Paul Moss trap Perryman right in front of his stumps LBW. Dartfordians on the ropes at 30 for 6. When Paul bowled Curtis two overs later, the game was well and truly in the home sides hands at 52 for 7, but could they claim the maximum win bonus by bowling the opposition out? Dave Robotham and Craig Partridge switched into the bowling attack, and for a minute it looked like the Park had let the oppo off the hook, as Cullern and Scott rallied well. Not to fear though, as Dave Robotham, imbetween bowling a few very unusual for him loose deliveries mixed in some superb slower balls that routed the final three batsmen. Cullern was caught by keeper Griffiths, and Scott and Breweer were cleaned up by identical deliveries, as Dave tidied up with a killer 4 over spell. Dartfordians all out for 93, and Park winners by 97 runs.

The Park batsmen coped with an excellent Dartfordians bowling attack to post a challenging score. Then the bowlers responded with an opening spell that effectively ended the game. Another excellent team performance and a few more lessons learnt in the League arena. Excellent displays all round but particularly from Hearnie, Dave Partridge, Dave Robotham and Paul Moss. However the MOM todays goes to your good Captain, Mr Darran Fowdy, and not merely because he scored more runs than the entire opposition (although that would almost certainly do in any other respect), and has forced me to create a new Glossary Page on the website for over-used platitudes. Dazza skippered the side superbly once again and always ensured that that the right person was doing the right thing at the right time (except that over of cack from Craig but what are you gonna do eh ? bloody students). Born to lead, Future England Captain ? (North East Division). In what's fast becoming another regular feature, once again a big shout to umpire Alan Horton, resplendant today in straw boater, officiating at both ends with calm authority.