PACEMAN Dan Conway’s devastating display helped put Bournemouth firmly in control of their quest for the Southern Premier League Division One title.
The Herefordshire Minor Counties pace bowler, Director of Sport at Clayesmore School, claimed four victims as Lions cruised to a nine-wicket win at Liphook & Ripsley, writes Bournemouth Daily Echo’s Dan Rose.
Victory for the Chapel Gate outfit was made even sweeter as title rivals Sarisbury Athleric and Calmore Sports both slipped to defeat.
Calmore were thumped by 113 runs at Portsmouth, while Ventnor beat Sarisbury by four wickets with just one ball to spare.
The results mean Bournemouth are more than two-and-a-half points ahead of the chasing pack in the league averages.
Skipper Chris Park said: “The other results going our way was an added bonus. The boys were looking at the result pages coming in and it was a good day all round. The bowlers and the opening batsmen did their jobs.
“It was a good pitch at Liphook but it just wasn’t bouncing, there was no spin or seam movement, it was just a low-bounce pitch. For someone like Dan Conway, it was ideal conditions. He bowls straight, wicket-to-wicket and he managed to get four in his 10 overs.
“As a one to 11, I think we have all the bases covered. If we turn up on a seam-friendly pitch, we have Dan, Ed Denham and Simon Woodruff as three good seamers. If it’s spinning, we have four spinners of high quality.”
Having been asked to bowl first, Bournemouth’s Conway set to work in ruthless fashion.
He claimed three early wickets to leave the hosts in deep trouble at 15 for three.
Despite Harry Munt (27) and Grant Rouse (24) putting on a stand of 50, when the former was bowled by leg-spinner Jem Warner (2-23), the floodgates opened.
Conway picked up another wicket to finish with four for 38 from 10 overs. Rob Pack (3-18) and Dom Clutterbuck (1-2) also helped dismiss the hosts for 127.
In reply, Bournemouth made light work of chasing down their required target.
Opener Nick Park produced an unbeaten 70 from 95 deliveries, which included 11 boundaries.
Only Tom West (41) departed when he was caught by Ryan Covey off the bowling of Munt.
It was left to Woodruff to help Lions over the line from 30.4 overs as they recorded their 10th win of the campaign.
“Anyone who plays cricket knows a low-scoring chase can sometimes be quite difficult,” added Park.
“The way Tom West and Nick applied themselves was great. It was a bit of a shame Tom got out with nine runs still needed.
“As batsman, our top seven is very experienced and they have all had to put their hands up at some stage.”
Opener Park’s half-century put him second in the division’s list of highest run-scorers on 414. Only Liphook’s Munt (441) has totalled more.
Liphook & Ripsley may be one win away from a place in the National Village Cup final at Lord’s, but they’ve a relegation fight on their hands either side of a semi-final visit East Sussex and Mayfield on Sunday week.
A nine-wicket defeat by title favourites Bournemouth has left them in the bottom three.
The Herefordshire Minor Counties pace bowler, Director of Sport at Clayesmore School, claimed four victims as Lions cruised to a nine-wicket win at Liphook & Ripsley, writes Bournemouth Daily Echo’s Dan Rose.
Victory for the Chapel Gate outfit was made even sweeter as title rivals Sarisbury Athleric and Calmore Sports both slipped to defeat.
Calmore were thumped by 113 runs at Portsmouth, while Ventnor beat Sarisbury by four wickets with just one ball to spare.
The results mean Bournemouth are more than two-and-a-half points ahead of the chasing pack in the league averages.
Skipper Chris Park said: “The other results going our way was an added bonus. The boys were looking at the result pages coming in and it was a good day all round. The bowlers and the opening batsmen did their jobs.
“It was a good pitch at Liphook but it just wasn’t bouncing, there was no spin or seam movement, it was just a low-bounce pitch. For someone like Dan Conway, it was ideal conditions. He bowls straight, wicket-to-wicket and he managed to get four in his 10 overs.
“As a one to 11, I think we have all the bases covered. If we turn up on a seam-friendly pitch, we have Dan, Ed Denham and Simon Woodruff as three good seamers. If it’s spinning, we have four spinners of high quality.”
Having been asked to bowl first, Bournemouth’s Conway set to work in ruthless fashion.
He claimed three early wickets to leave the hosts in deep trouble at 15 for three.
Despite Harry Munt (27) and Grant Rouse (24) putting on a stand of 50, when the former was bowled by leg-spinner Jem Warner (2-23), the floodgates opened.
Conway picked up another wicket to finish with four for 38 from 10 overs. Rob Pack (3-18) and Dom Clutterbuck (1-2) also helped dismiss the hosts for 127.
In reply, Bournemouth made light work of chasing down their required target.
Opener Nick Park produced an unbeaten 70 from 95 deliveries, which included 11 boundaries.
Only Tom West (41) departed when he was caught by Ryan Covey off the bowling of Munt.
It was left to Woodruff to help Lions over the line from 30.4 overs as they recorded their 10th win of the campaign.
“Anyone who plays cricket knows a low-scoring chase can sometimes be quite difficult,” added Park.
“The way Tom West and Nick applied themselves was great. It was a bit of a shame Tom got out with nine runs still needed.
“As batsman, our top seven is very experienced and they have all had to put their hands up at some stage.”
Opener Park’s half-century put him second in the division’s list of highest run-scorers on 414. Only Liphook’s Munt (441) has totalled more.
Liphook & Ripsley may be one win away from a place in the National Village Cup final at Lord’s, but they’ve a relegation fight on their hands either side of a semi-final visit East Sussex and Mayfield on Sunday week.
A nine-wicket defeat by title favourites Bournemouth has left them in the bottom three.
