Pace ace too hot to handle as Park race to victory

IN-FORM professional Mohammad Junaid Khan claimed a devastating eight-wicket haul against Crewe to move Ashcombe Park to within touching distance of the Division Two promotion places.

Khan, whose pace and accuracy proved way too much for the opposition batsmen, finished with 8-29 as Crewe collapsed in spectacular fashion to 50 all out. Six of Khan's victims made their way back to the pavilion after having their stumps uprooted.

And the meagre target proved easy pickings for Ashcombe, who collected 20 points to move within 18 of second-placed Weston.

While Khan grabbed the limelight on a soft and wet Ashcombe wicket, he was superbly supported by the outstanding Lee Slater, who bowled majestically during his 12-over spell to finish with 2-18.

Before the opposition had reached double figures, they were already two wickets down. Nick Goodwin took a sharp catch at gulley off Khan to remove Yasser Tariq (7) and then the newly called up Pakistan A seamer tore out Mark Hurst's off stump.

Slater then removed Crewe's star man Nolan McKenzie – a wide-eyed Adam Wilson taking a sliding catch at point.

The highlight of the match arrived with Slater's second wicket when a rising delivery was edged behind by Naseer.

Recalled wicketkeeper Steven Proffitt took off athletically to his right, palming the ball high into the air only for brother David to steal his glory and take the catch at first slip.

The wicketkeeper was recalled to the side after missing the previous four matches with a broken finger – sustained after keeping to the hostile Khan against Meakins.

The younger and more agile Proffitt showed no signs of any problem, though, with faultless and occasionally sublime handling throughout the innings.

Khan continued to beat the bat and bruise the batsman at the Basford Bridge Road end. He took his season's tally to 48 with an lbw decision and five further bowled victims as he wrapped up the innings.

Although the Park opening pair were in complete control, players and spectators alike were puzzled as to why record breaking seamer David Clowes wasn't thrown the ball during the 24.3 over innings.

But Clowes, along with fellow bowling spectators Josh Johnson and Thomas Wilshaw, fielded superbly and at least managed to dirty their whites before begrudgingly handing over their match fees.

Ashcombe's reply got off to a slow start. Both James Proffitt (0) and Adam Wilson (4) played poor shots to gift the Crewe fielders easy catches off the bowling of Kimany Gregoire and give the Park skipper food for thought in terms of his batting order this weekend.

Number three Phil Clowes restored order with 37 not out off just 32 balls which included five consecutive boundaries off an irate Gregoire.

Park eased past the winning post in only the 10th over to claim a comfortable 20 points from a short afternoon's work.