Records Fall as Fowdy & Griffiths Hit Tons

Brilliant unbeaten centuries from Skipper Darran Fowdy and Roger Griffiths set Park up for an excellent win over a strong Cobham team, and set new records for the third wicket partnership of 210 and team total of 270.

Dave Hearn and Dave Brupbacher opened the show for Park and runs were hard to come by early doors. Bru departed for 4, edging behind with an uncharacteristic early swish. Park 7 for 1. Skip Fowdy came to the crease and the tempo changed as he was aggresive from the start, and was soon hitting boundarys. Hearnie joined in the fun and the score was soon moving along until he was caught for 29. With Park at 60 for 2 Roger Griffiths entered the fray and set straight about trying to catch up the Skipper. From this point on it was a run fest as the boundarys were peppered from all angles. Roger was particularly strong straight down the ground and the old folks bowling club was in danger behind the long on boundary. Darrans hitting through square was the most aggresive this correspondant has seen for a long time and the long retired Fowdy pull shot was in good effect as the lads in the adjoining tennis court soon found out. The hundred partnership was soon reached and before long the skipper was on 85 with a century beckoning. At this point Darran started to flag and Roger was catching up fast and looked like he might make the ton first as the skip crawled (alomst literally at times) into the nineties. By this time most of the bowling club had abandoned their games and were watching the fun as Darran reached his century off another fine 4. Shortly after Roger made his ton in great style with a straight 6. The 200 partnership followed and by the time 46 overs had been bowled Park were 270 for 3 with Darran and Roger were unbeaten on 106 and 110 respectively, and walked off to a great reception from players and spectators alike.

Faced with a huge total Cobham set off very positively and looked determined to chase it down until Craig Partridge bowled the dangerous looking Smith. Cobham 27 for 1. Kidd and Shepherd carried on in the same aggressive vein and neither Craigy Boy or Craig Brooke-Smith could stem the flow of runs. Bill Partridge came into the attackand had an immediate effect, dramatically slowing the run rate and bowling Shepherd to leave the home team on 99 for 2 in 19 overs. With Dave Fletcher coming under pressure at the other end the Skip brought Christian O'Mahoney into the attack. Christians aggresive style went for a few runs early on but then he struck in his 4th, 5th and 6th overs trapping Fitness LBW, having Booth caught behind by Bob Harbert and Scott caught brilliantly in the covers by the diving Skip Fowdy. Cobham 150 for 5. The returning Craig Partridge finally had Kidd caught by Dave Brupbacher for a fine 77 to leave the home side on 165 for 6. By now Cobham were well behind the run rate and Tim Gannon and Dave Fletcher bowled the remaining overs out with Gannon picking up Pearce caught by Bob behind the stumps. Cobham finished on a creditable 229 for 7, with Park claiming a memorable 41 run win.

There can only be two winners today with two performances totally dominating the game. Skipper Darran Fowdy and Roger Griffiths share the MOM for their superb unbeaten centuries, breaking two all time PPCC records into the bargain.