As our fixture preview suggested, Park were extremely busy last week in all departments, even including successfully hosting the Essex Women v Surrey Women game on Monday (3rd August) afternoon.
Back to our teams and all four senior teams were in action on Saturday with mixed results.
Our First XI hosted Old Brentwood in the 1st Tier- ten Doeschate division and proved comprehensive victors by the close.
With home debuts from Frankie Hazel, Will Chuter, Sachin Vaja and Omar Ayaz, the vistors won the toss and elected to bat and were soon on the back-foot with captain Jamal Francis taking two of the top three for single figures. Indeed, with only three batsmen making it to double digits (Shazad Khan top scorer with 36) Park looked confident as Old Brentwood were all out for 127 after just 29 overs. Francis added a further wicket to take his tally to 3 for 31 off 8 overs, whilst debutants Ayaz recorded an impressive 6 for 25 off 7 and Chuter added his wicket for just 16 runs.
In reply, Park's top three struck fifteen boundaries in just shy of 29 overs with Ubaid Kiani (39 not out) and Hazel (61 not out) providing the easy win once opener Vaja had been bowled for 26.
After three games, Park sit joint top with three rivals but this should spur them on to even better things!
Our Second XI visited Ardleigh Green in a mid-table match in the Prichard division.
Winning the toss and batting first proved a boon for the home side as they ran up a score of 171 for 8 off their allotted 40 overs. Park will be ruing a great start by Alex Toft who eventually took two wickets in the first over for an overall 4 for 22 off 8 overs. At 11 for 4, the home side looked in trouble as wickets fell to Krishnan Kumar, Adam McKie and Nirbhay Bist before Rai and Brooks put up 43 apiece to make the target a respectable one.
Despite a half-century from captain Callum Mitcham and respectable efforts from Bist, Toft and Steve Brant, Park were skittled out for 121 in the 36th over.
This leaves the side with one win, one loss and one abandoned but with no team remaining unbeaten in the division, there is everything to play for as we approach the final month of the season.
Unfortunately our Third XI couldn't take advantage of home advantage against Brentwood. Chasing the away side's 123 off 40 overs, Park just feel short when 'all out' an over before the end for 114. They, too, remain mid-table in the Harmer division.
Finally the Fourth XI visited Chelmer Park in a tricky tie and opting to bat first would have been disappointed to be all out for 98, the home bowlers Cornell and Bond splitting eight wickets between them. In reply, opener Ben Turner contributed an unbeaten 52 as the home side reached their target with a bit to spare. We hope for better fortune against local rivals Goresbrook next week.
On Sunday, our T-20 team hosted a return match against Stanford-Le-Hope, the visitors hoping to revenge Park's victory seven days previously.
Winning the toss and electing to bat, SLH didn't make the allotted 20 overs when all being out for just 117, wickets shared by Jack Roberts, Jason O'Byrne and three of the winning First XI side from the day before in Francis, Hazel and Bist.
The target looked achievable and Park didn't let the home crowd down, reaching their target with six wickets and eight balls to spare. Notable contributions from George Rogers (29 not out) and probable joint players of the weekend, Hazel (48 not out) and Bist (28). Nice work all!
Please keep an eye out for this week's fixtures on our News Page and our Junior round-up to follow very soon.