Findon’s Lord’s dream is ended by Park

A place in the last 16 was at stake as they travelled to East Sussex winners Crowhurst Park for the Sussex final and first national round.

The visitors posted 185-7 in their 40 overs as Felix Jordan top-scored with 39 and Jack Metters hit 33, before Park chased down the total for the loss of six wickets with eight balls remaining in their reply.

Findon skipper James Iago admitted he felt they did not put up enough runs and that 200 to 220 would have been a par score.

He said: “We lost wickets at the wrong times and, although we crept up to 185, I think the only way we were going to win was to bowl them out.

“I do not think we bowled brilliantly, we gave them too many four balls. We fielded well, but it just did not quite go for us.

“To be honest, the better team on the day won. It’s disappointing as with all due respect to them, I think they are a beatable side. With the side we had out on Sunday, I felt we should have beaten them.

“The key was we did not get enough runs, basically. It’s a quite well thought of competition and, as a club, we always look to do well in it, but we are massively disappointed not to progress.”

After Park won the toss and opted to field, tight bowling restricted Findon early on, and two early wickets left them at 44-2 from 15 overs. Jack Metters put on a well-made 33 and Felix Jordan struck 39 in a third-wicket stand of 54.

In the last five overs, Findon started to attack with skipper Iago (32 not out) and James Ballamy (16 not out) helping the visitors reach 185-7 at the close of their innings.

Opener Paul Brookes (nine) fell to Curtis Howell (2-30) in the fourth over, and with Lawrence Coleman going for a duck, Park were in trouble at 15-2.

Dale Payne (15) and Bradley Payne (68) put on 49 for the third wicket, before Bradley and Clive Tong (38) added a fourth-wicket stand of 69 to take them to 133, when the latter was dismissed.

Ed Smissen hit an unbeaten 34 in an excellent partnership with Bradley Payne, which almost saw them home.

Bradley Payne was bowled by Iago in the 37th over, but Smissen and Matt Peters (seven not out) saw Crowhurst to victory in the 38th over.