Park on the up after final day win

CROWHURST Park have clinched promotion to Division Two in just their second season in the Sussex Cricket League.

They defeated Crawley by four wickets to hold off the challenge of Ansty and Lewes Priory on the final day of the Division Three (East) campaign.

Park won the toss and opted to bowl at Southgate Park. The Crawley opening pair of Harry Chaudhary (23) and Atif Elahi (37) put on 64 before Richard Coleman finally made the breakthrough by tempting Elahi into a loose shot.

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Paul Brookes bowled Chaudhary in the next over and then took a sharp caught and bowled. Sohail Shah (29) and brother Salman Shan began to up the pace until both were snapped up by Bradley Payne off the bowling of skipper Paul Lindfield and Ed Smissen.

Wickets continued to tumble before Crawley finished on 176-9 off 53 overs. Brookes returned fine figures of 4-46.

Park stumbled to 32-2 in reply but a superb fifth wicket partnership of 103 between Dale Bryant (76) and Brookes (41) saw them to 177-6 and the title.

Next season Park will be playing the likes of Bexhill and Eastbourne who were both relegated from the Premier.

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Division Three East final standings (all played 18 matches): Crowhurst Park 346pts, Ansty 339, Lewes Priory 322, Keymer & Hassocks 297, Crawley 295, Henfield 254, Burgess Hill 254, Lindfield 254, Hellingly 253, Seaford 230.

For a full match see Friday’s Observer Sport.