Jamie Price in full cry [Dave Vokes]
SKIPPER Chris Park admitted Bournemouth had started their Southern Premier League Division 1 promotion party early after a season-defining success at Sarisbury Athletic.
Lions recorded a dominant 80-run triumph over their title rivals at the Hollow, meaning they need just two more league points to seal the crown outright.
On a surface affected by 17mm of rain that fell the previous Thursday morning, Jamie Price struck 57 on his Bournemouth first-team debut to help his side post 194 for seven.
Later, on a helpful pitch, left-arm spinner Dom Clutterbuck helped himself to five for 36 to help bowl out Sarisbury for 114 in reply.
Park said: “We did celebrate. It’s not being blasé – if we can’t get two points (off Hook & Newnham Basics) in the first innings this Saturday at Bournemouth, we need shooting.
“We had a few quiet beers and we all know that the league is ours now. We just need to play proper cricket over the next two weeks.”
Lions won the toss and elected to bat first in the crucial encounter, a decision the wicketkeeper-batsman believed was pivotal.
Josh Hill (3-35) struck two early blows by clean bowling top Bournemouth pair Nick Park and Luke Webb, but Tom West (33) and, more specifically, former Dorset U17 starlet Jamie Price steadied the ship.
Price, now at Bristol University but sidelined recently with a broken finger, went on to make a debut 57 and alongside Chris Park (34) and with some handy contributions down the order, guided Bournemouth to 194-7.
The Lions captain was particularly impressed by the application shown by Price.
“How Pricey played on his debut was unbelievable,” he added. “He looked to counter-attack and hit the ball hard with some beautiful shots.
“For a young lad to come in at number four and do that was outstanding.”
Predictably, Bournemouth’s triple pronged spin attack bowled the Lions to victory – and the Division 1 title.
They took nine of the ten Sarisbury wickets, left-arm spinner Dom Clutterbuck taking 5-36 before realising he hadn’t brought any money with him to buy the celebratory jug of beer !
Rob Pack’s 2-33 return took his season’s tally to 34 wickets, one more than Calmore Sports skipper Mark Lavelle and Ventnor’s Chris Russell.
Jem Warner took two late wickets in seven balls, including veteran Dan Goldstraw (21), whose first game in two seasons was wicketless, but included two big trademark sixes.
“The pressure of our spinners eventually told and the lads were really happy. It was a great team performance.”
Lions recorded a dominant 80-run triumph over their title rivals at the Hollow, meaning they need just two more league points to seal the crown outright.
On a surface affected by 17mm of rain that fell the previous Thursday morning, Jamie Price struck 57 on his Bournemouth first-team debut to help his side post 194 for seven.
Later, on a helpful pitch, left-arm spinner Dom Clutterbuck helped himself to five for 36 to help bowl out Sarisbury for 114 in reply.
Park said: “We did celebrate. It’s not being blasé – if we can’t get two points (off Hook & Newnham Basics) in the first innings this Saturday at Bournemouth, we need shooting.
“We had a few quiet beers and we all know that the league is ours now. We just need to play proper cricket over the next two weeks.”
Lions won the toss and elected to bat first in the crucial encounter, a decision the wicketkeeper-batsman believed was pivotal.
Josh Hill (3-35) struck two early blows by clean bowling top Bournemouth pair Nick Park and Luke Webb, but Tom West (33) and, more specifically, former Dorset U17 starlet Jamie Price steadied the ship.
Price, now at Bristol University but sidelined recently with a broken finger, went on to make a debut 57 and alongside Chris Park (34) and with some handy contributions down the order, guided Bournemouth to 194-7.
The Lions captain was particularly impressed by the application shown by Price.
“How Pricey played on his debut was unbelievable,” he added. “He looked to counter-attack and hit the ball hard with some beautiful shots.
“For a young lad to come in at number four and do that was outstanding.”
Predictably, Bournemouth’s triple pronged spin attack bowled the Lions to victory – and the Division 1 title.
They took nine of the ten Sarisbury wickets, left-arm spinner Dom Clutterbuck taking 5-36 before realising he hadn’t brought any money with him to buy the celebratory jug of beer !
Rob Pack’s 2-33 return took his season’s tally to 34 wickets, one more than Calmore Sports skipper Mark Lavelle and Ventnor’s Chris Russell.
Jem Warner took two late wickets in seven balls, including veteran Dan Goldstraw (21), whose first game in two seasons was wicketless, but included two big trademark sixes.
“The pressure of our spinners eventually told and the lads were really happy. It was a great team performance.”
Cash strapped Dom Clutterbuck had no money to buy his celebratory jug ! [Bournemouth Echo]
