Brookes can’t help think of Lord’s

Crowhurst Park captain Paul Brookes is dreaming of a Lord's final in the ECB Davidstow Village Cup

Park will host Findon in the last 32 of the ECB Davidstow Village Cup on Sunday with the final of the prestigious national knockout competition to be played at ‘the home of the cricket’.

Brookes said: “I can’t help but think of Lord’s. Each time we win we’re a further step closer to Lord’s. It would be amazing for the club if we could do that, but we’ve got to take each game as it comes.”

East Sussex winners Park faced West Sussex champions Findon in Sussex Cricket League Division Two the weekend before last when Findon’s last pair remarkably survived the final 17 overs to hold on for a draw.

“If we rock up with the same attitude we had against Glynde (in the previous round when Park won by virtue of losing fewer wickets after the scores were level), we’ve got a good chance,” Brookes continued. “The key thing is to go out and enjoy it.”

Park are also on home soil tomorrow (Saturday) when they take on Ifield in the league and Brookes says the Telham-based club is giving equal priority to both competitions.

Park are eighth in the league with a third of the season completed, although all of their away games so far have been rain-affected. Two have been abandoned without a ball bowled - the latest being last weekend’s clash at Billingshurst - and the other was played under T20 rules (and treated as abandoned).

“We’ve got a very young side,” continued Brookes, who has picked up 13 wickets in Park’s last two league games which have beaten the weather. “I’m the oldest by 21 years; the next one is 26.

“We’ve got a great team spirit, we’re saving runs in the field and the previous week (against Findon and Glynde) they did really well. On the Sunday, the youngsters saw us through.

“They’re starting to come of age and starting to believe in themselves. It’s all positive and as the season goes on, I’m sure they’ll improve each game we play. From where we are now, if we can finish halfway, that will be a good result.”

Matt Peters is unavailable tomorrow (and will be replaced by brother John Peters), but can play on Sunday, while the opposite applies to Kellen Powell as overseas players are ineligible in the Village Cup. Nick Taylor is heading to the United States and will miss the rest of the season.

Both matches are scheduled to start at 1pm.