SKIPPER Chris Park acknowledges Bournemouth may be “clutching at straws” as they bid to pull off an unlikely promotion smash and grab.
But although the odds are stacked firmly against them, Park insists the Chapel Gate outfit will give it their best shot during the final two games of the season.
Third-placed Bournemouth currently trail leaders Calmore Sports and Basingstoke & North Hants in the race for the Southern League Division One championship.
And with just one promotion berth up for grabs, the Lions are huge long-shots to regain the Premier Division status they lost in 2013, writes Neil Perrett, Bournemouth Echo.
Bournemouth maintained their slim hopes with a crushing nine-wicket win over relegated Tichborne Park – avenging a shock 32-run defeat by the strugglers in June.
Park told the Daily Echo: “Although we cannot mathematically catch Calmore, there are suggestions they would not be able to get promoted should they finish top. It is hearsay at the moment and I am not sure how much truth there is in the rumour.
“But if it does turn out to be accurate and Basingstoke were to slip up, there would be a glimmer of hope for us. As it stands, we are seven points behind them.
“If they were to lose a game and we could win our last two then we might be able to overtake them. There might be a chance but we are clutching at straws a little.”
A devastating opening spell from Chrystian Michalowski (4-14) and Matt Jones (3-38) reduced Tichborne Park to 45-7 before Dom Clutterbuck (2-19) and Jem Warner (1-11) cleaned them out for just 84.
And although Nick Park was bowled by Tom Allam off the second ball of the Bournemouth reply, an unbroken second-wicket stand of 81 between Simon Woodruff (45) and Jake Hurley (33) saw them hurtle to victory at 85-1 from 16.4 overs.
“It was a very convincing win but just brought back the frustrations of early season when we lost at their place,” said captain Park.
“We wrapped up the game inside three-and-a-half hours and it could have been a lot quicker.
“It was the Bournemouth I want to see. We were clinical with the ball and Chrystian and Matt probably had their best opening spell of the season.
“Chrystian has been bowling beautifully all year but has been unfortunate Conveniently, he managed to hit the stumps a couple of times and two batters decided to back away and got caught behind.
“They were 45 for seven in six or seven overs which was a bit of an end-of-season joke really.
“Apart from getting Nick second ball, some of their bowling was not the best and Simon and Jake distributed quite quickly to the boundary.
“We did what we needed to and now we go to Ventnor on Saturday hoping to keep alive our season for another week.
“We know we are going to need maximum points from our final two games unless Basingstoke slip up. They play Hook & Newnham Basics on the last day of the season which is a derby so if we could take it to the final day then you never know what could happen.”
But although the odds are stacked firmly against them, Park insists the Chapel Gate outfit will give it their best shot during the final two games of the season.
Third-placed Bournemouth currently trail leaders Calmore Sports and Basingstoke & North Hants in the race for the Southern League Division One championship.
And with just one promotion berth up for grabs, the Lions are huge long-shots to regain the Premier Division status they lost in 2013, writes Neil Perrett, Bournemouth Echo.
Bournemouth maintained their slim hopes with a crushing nine-wicket win over relegated Tichborne Park – avenging a shock 32-run defeat by the strugglers in June.
Park told the Daily Echo: “Although we cannot mathematically catch Calmore, there are suggestions they would not be able to get promoted should they finish top. It is hearsay at the moment and I am not sure how much truth there is in the rumour.
“But if it does turn out to be accurate and Basingstoke were to slip up, there would be a glimmer of hope for us. As it stands, we are seven points behind them.
“If they were to lose a game and we could win our last two then we might be able to overtake them. There might be a chance but we are clutching at straws a little.”
A devastating opening spell from Chrystian Michalowski (4-14) and Matt Jones (3-38) reduced Tichborne Park to 45-7 before Dom Clutterbuck (2-19) and Jem Warner (1-11) cleaned them out for just 84.
And although Nick Park was bowled by Tom Allam off the second ball of the Bournemouth reply, an unbroken second-wicket stand of 81 between Simon Woodruff (45) and Jake Hurley (33) saw them hurtle to victory at 85-1 from 16.4 overs.
“It was a very convincing win but just brought back the frustrations of early season when we lost at their place,” said captain Park.
“We wrapped up the game inside three-and-a-half hours and it could have been a lot quicker.
“It was the Bournemouth I want to see. We were clinical with the ball and Chrystian and Matt probably had their best opening spell of the season.
“Chrystian has been bowling beautifully all year but has been unfortunate Conveniently, he managed to hit the stumps a couple of times and two batters decided to back away and got caught behind.
“They were 45 for seven in six or seven overs which was a bit of an end-of-season joke really.
“Apart from getting Nick second ball, some of their bowling was not the best and Simon and Jake distributed quite quickly to the boundary.
“We did what we needed to and now we go to Ventnor on Saturday hoping to keep alive our season for another week.
“We know we are going to need maximum points from our final two games unless Basingstoke slip up. They play Hook & Newnham Basics on the last day of the season which is a derby so if we could take it to the final day then you never know what could happen.”
