Egerton Park: Firsts' year-long unbeaten run ends; Maiden win for Seconds

A year ago on the May 23, 2015, Park’s First XI lost on the final ball of the game away to Newtown Linford.

For the rest of the 2015 season they remained unbeaten on their way to promotion to Division Two.

Almost a year later to the day, on May 21, 2016, Park were asked to bat first at Billesdon on a dull, damp day and track to match.

A watchful start laid the foundation for Zaheer Hussain (64) and Stuart Rose (81) to add 140 for the third wicket to leave the visitors in a good position.

But an uncharacteristic collapse stalled Park as momentum was lost and their innings ended on 175-8, perhaps 20 or 30 runs short of what they should have got given their earlier position.

In reply, Billesdon’s opener Botting struck a quickfire 52 after surviving a couple of dropped catches.

Park did well to get back into the game, but a further dropped catch proved costly and Billesdon were always favourite to complete the victory which they did, with two wickets and four balls to spare.

Egerton Park: R. Haffenden 8, R. Bailey 1, Z. Hussain 64, S. Rose 81, C. Madden 1, D. Burdett 6, H. Webster 8*, N. Watchorn 0, H. Lovegrove 1, C. Beeken 1*, Extras 4. Total: 175-8.

Billesdon: 180-8.

Bowling: K. Panchal 12-2-40-2; N. Watchorn 12-1-50-2; C. Madden 4-0-12-0; H. Lovegrove 4-1-17-1; Z. Hussain 9.2-0-40-3; C. Beeken 3-0-13-0.

* Egerton Park Second XI secured their first win of the season at home to Lutterworth on Saturday.

Batting first, Park lost last week’s hero Bates for four which brought together the veteran partnership of Tyler and Lees. They rolled back the years, putting on 68 before Tyler fell for 37.

Simons came to the wicket and began to play some big shots until he was controversially run out, leaving Creed and Lees to push the total up to a solid 172-6 at tea.

The veteran theme continued as Webster ripped through the Lutterworth top order, taking four wickets for only eight runs.

Backed up by excellent support from Creed, Simons, Harris and Barber, the chase never looked on.

Two outstanding catches from Barber finally dismissed the visitors for just 61 to wrap up a 111-run win shortly before the rain set in.

Park: Tyler 37, Bates 4, Lees 49, Simons 18, Creed 18, Moulde 4*, Harris 1, Webster 0*, Extras 41. Total: 172-6.

Lutterworth: 61.

Bowling: Creed 11-3-29-2; Webster 10-6-8-4; Simons 5-1-7-2; Barber 1.5-0-5-1.