SKIPPER Chris Park bemoaned Bournemouth's poor form with the bat and urged his players to "put a smile back on their faces" following a shock defeat at lowly Tichborne Park.

The Lions fell 33 runs short of their 185 victory target to suffer a third loss in four matches, having started the Southern Premier League season with three successive wins.

Top of the Division One table a fortnight ago, Bournemouth have slipped to fourth off the back of a run in which they have not scored more than 200 since a victory over Hook & Newnham Basics last month.

Their reply on Saturday got off to the worst possible start, when opener Nick Park and in-form Luke Matthews were both dismissed inside the opening over.

And it did not escape Chris Park's notice that second team openers Martin Miller (106) and Tom West (53) had shared an unbroken 182-run stand in their 10-wicket triumph at Locks Heath in the Hampshire League.

He told the Daily Echo: "Our downfall at the moment is a lack of runs – and we have been bitten on the backside again.

"It was not a 180 pitch – 150 was par in the conditions – so we were disappointed we allowed them to get away from us.

"We then got off to a poor start with the bat. Losing Nick and Luke so quickly left us behind the eight ball and we were unable to recover. They are two very big players for us.

"There are decisions to be made in terms of selection for next week now and we could possibly bring in Martin Miller or Tom West."

Andrew Hayward was promoted from the seconds to replace the absent Ben Bridgen for the trip to Tichborne Park. The opener responded with a composed knock of 52 but he became the second of three Lions wickets to fall with the score on 122 when he was castled by Thomas Allam (4-22).

Bournemouth eventually subsided to 152 with all-rounder Jake Hurley adding 25 to the three for 19 he had claimed with the ball as Tichborne, led by captain and gun all-rounder Allam's 77, scrapped their way to 184.

"Andrew scored a good 50 and kept us in the game really," added Park.

"We were always just about on target but not having wickets in the hutch was a big factor for us.

"Jake batted nicely and he bowled beautifully as well. We have Jem Warner coming back for the game with Ventnor next week, so that is another selection decision we have to make.

"It is hugely disappointing to lose successive matches. We have another two games until the season's halfway point, then we can assess where we are and what we need to do.

"But we want the lads to get a smile back on their faces and enjoy their cricket, then, hopefully, that will carry over into their performances."