Proper Bo from the Park Selecta

Skipper Darran Fowdy won the toss and sent in Lessa for a bat, and Craig and David Partridge opened the bowling for the Park. Lessa got off to a steady start and it wasn't until the ninth over that Davey Boy made the breakthrough, Harwood hoisting the ball high into Long on where, as usual Simon Ewin came running in to take another trademark superlative catch. Lessa 19 for 1. Neither of the bowling Partridges could make any further inroads so old hands Bill Partridge and Dave Robotham tried their luck. Dave was straight into the game, third ball when he got MacFarlane's edge and keeper Roger Griffiths took the catch. Lessa 29 for 2. Dave turned up three overs later with another one, Kendall popping one up to Bill Partridge at mid off for the catch. Lessa 48 for 3. The next few minutes saw Park firmly into the driving seat as the Lessa wickets tumbled. Bill bowled Hunter, with no further run added, then followed up 5 runs later with Skipper Lawson caught by Dave Hearn at long off, juggling the ball three times from over head height, before snatching it up, diving, inches off the ground. With Graham fresh at the crease, Dave Robotham knocked his stumps back, then Bill repeated the trick to Green. All of a sudden, Lessa were 54 for 7, having lost 5 wickets for 6 runs in a collapse that could only be called Prospect Park-esque in proportions. Billy boy hadn't finished yet and took his fourth wicket when Edwards smote the ball high into the outfield where the running & diving Si Ewin took yet another wonder/regulation catch (delete where appropriate, wonder for most of us, regulation for Simon), that outshone even his previous effort. Having gained his glossary entry last week, Mr Dependable appears to be determined to use it every game. One can only wonder what he'll come up with next week. With Lessa at 63 for 8, Steve Allen went on the offensive with an entertaining display of boundary hitting, that had the Park faithful wondering what he was doing batting at no.9. Paul Thompson made a startling League debut with an over of leg spin that finished the innings. Ahmed getting a leading edge to cover where Dave Partridge pouched the catch, and Vella edging through to keeper Griffiths. Lessa rolled over for 85 off only 32 overs.

With the Park taking Lessa's unused 14 overs, they had a target of 86 runs with 60 overs to get them. It became clear early doors that the target might not be the walk in the park that it might seem, with plenty of playing and missing, and excellent bowling from the Lessa openers. Opening duo Christian O'Mahoney and Dave Hearn lookd edgy but Christian played his luck and soon had smashed three boundarys. Hearnie soon edged one to second slip where Kendall took a good catch, and Dave headed back to the pavillion with one to his name. When Christian joined him in the next over, edging into his stumps for 14 and the score still on 15, there were sharp intakes of breath on the sidelines. Simon Ewin and Roger Griffiths added some much needed ballast to the Park innings, seeing the side through to the tea break and beyond without further mishap. The Lessa bowlers were exploiting their local knowledge to get a lot of bounce off the pitch, with both players taking some nasty deliveries, and Simon regularly defending his wicket with his body, bat, and even 'unmentionables'. As the players confidence grew, the shots started to come out of the closet, and two boundaries from Si, and one from Roger eased the tension on the Park bench. However, just as the Park hopes were rising Roger hoicked one high into the covers, where Green pulled off a superb Ewin style catch and Park were 53 for 3, Rog departing for a valuable 14. At this point Hearnie donned his robes and picked up his scythe to become his alter ego, the Harbinger of Doom. Craig Partridge joined Simon in the middle, and was off the mark with a booming square drive or outside edge (take your pick) that scorched to the bounmdary. When Si was out LBW for a priceless 18 moments later, Hearnie's manifesto of sorrow reached new heights, "We've collapsed from here before you know", "We can still lose this" etc etc. Craig carved two more boundaries in the next over, pulled over a vacant mid wicket. He tried to repeat the trick one time too many though and skied one into the slips where stand in keeper Lawson took the catch. Park 73 for 5, and Craig out for a quickfire 18. With only three runs added, Thommo was LBW for a duck, and this set Hearnie off again for another Litany of Woe, and the Park supporters paced nervously with ten runs required for victory. With Skip Fowdy and Dave Fletcher at the crease the result was not in doubt and when the Skipper pulled Vella for four the game was won. Park finishing on 87 for 6, with Fletch 2 not out and Darran unbeaten on 5. Park win by 4 wickets and claim maximum League points.

A nerve wracking win for Prospect Park, but a good win nonetheless. A superb bowling and fielding performance really won the day, and some steely batting was required to get through a couple of decidedly uneasy passages of play. A good reminder that a low score can be very tricky to get. On the batting side, the vital contribution came from Si Ewin and Roger Griffiths, putting on 37 after the openers had been dispatched, and the Lessa bowlers were dominant. In the field, Si was again outstanding with two great catches, Dave Robotham continued his fine League bowling form with 3 wickets, but the MOM goes to Bill Partridge with an innings shattering spell of 4 for 20 that turned the game in Parks favour.