Park rally from 20-6 to earn draw

Ed Smissen compiled a superb half-century to get Crowhurst Park out of trouble in the draw away to St James's Montefiore

Rain was certainly around with several matches being abandoned within a short distance of this Sussex Cricket League Division Two encounter at St James’s Montefiore.

Unfortunately, and rather ironically, Park would have preferred a washout as they picked up just one point from the draw, although their performance clearly deserved more.

Park won the toss and elected to field on a damp wicket. St James’s openers got off to a flyer with 30 runs coming off the first six overs. Adam Din was the first to fall, caught by Jon Peters off Paul Brookes with the score on 33.

West Indian Mali Richards (son of the great Viv Richards) was the victim of a superb stumping by Kellen Powell, again off Brookes, and when opener John Taylor was sharply caught by Clive Tong off Bradley Payne, Park had pulled St James’s back to 45-3 off 10.

Payne struck again to remove Henry Sims and at 59-4, Park were back in control of the game. Adam Davies and Mike Edmunds rebuilt the innings to take the score to 113 before Edmunds gave Brookes his third wicket.

Despite some good bowling and tight fielding, an almost chanceless 101 not out by Davies took the score along to 209-5 declared.

Richards and Michael Murray then bowled an inspired opening 10-over spell to leave Park on the ropes at 20-6. With rain threatening and the light fading, Ed Smissen and Matt Peters showed true fighting spirit to stabilise the innings.

An excellent 87-run partnership took the wind out of St James’s sails and although victory was unlikely once they fell in quick succession, at least it showed the character of the team was still strong.

Smissen made a superb season’s best 63 and Matt Peters was stumped for a well-made 29. Pete Beaumont and young Fox Parker saw out the rest of the innings to leave the match drawn with Park finishing on 130-8.