BOURNEMOUTH skipper Chris Park insisted Luke Webb had “silenced the doubters” with his sensational unbeaten 138 against Calmore Sports.

The Dorset batsman made his mark on his third appearance for Lions, striking 13 fours and six sixes to help the Southern League Division One leaders triumph by 135 runs at Chapel Gate.

Webb had previously recorded modest totals of four and 10 in his opening two appearances having last month agreed to link up with Bournemouth.

And captain Park was pleased to see his county vice-skipper cash in.

He told the Daily Echo: “Webby was very good. The lads had been taking the mickey a little bit with his two low scores for us beforehand – that silenced the doubters and he had a little smile at tea time!

“I believe it’s his highest ever score. In that heat it was even better to show his concentration and fitness levels.

“He knows the lads anyway so there has been no problems with him settling in. Even his knock (of 76) last week for Dorset against Wiltshire, showed his aggressive batting while also being solid in defence.

“We were probably a little bit under par coming into the final 10 overs but with wickets in hand, Webby scored 40 off the final three himself, with Simon Woodruff also scoring quickly.”

After Bournemouth opener Tom West (2) fell cheaply with the score on six. Webb and Nick Park (54) set the platform with a stand of 125 before the latter was run out.

Despite the losses of Chris Park (10) and Ed Denham (3), Webb and former Wimborne man Woodruff (29) propelled the hosts to 246 for four from their 50 overs.

Having toiled in the heat, last season’s league champions failed to threaten their victory target.

Calmore fell from 61 for two to a miserly 111 all out.

Left-arm spinner Rob Pack (4-22) did the majority of the damage to ensure he remained the division’s leading wicket taker, with 23 victims at the halfway stage of the season.

There were also wickets for Jake Hurley (2-8), Dom Clutterbuck (2-27), Dan Conway (1-14) and Dave Kidner (1-18).

“With our bowling attack there is no bad bowler, it was just a case of picking when to bowl them because of the heat,” added the Bournemouth skipper.

“It was time to go to spin and Rob, Dom and Jake just continued where they left off the week before in getting wickets.”

Victory meant Lions stayed at the summit having won seven of their opening nine games this season.

Their nearest challengers are Sarisbury Athletic, who chased down 264 to beat Old Tauntonians & Romsey.

Leg-spinner Jem Warner could on Saturday make his first appearance for Lions this season having returned from university. Martin Miller is also available.