SKIPPER Chris Park admitted Bournemouth had started their promotion party early after a season-defining success at Sarisbury Athletic.

Lions recorded a dominant 80-run triumph over their title rivals at the Hollow, meaning they need just two more league points to seal the crown outright.

On a surface described as “an absolute shocker” by the visiting skipper, Jamie Price struck 57 on his Bournemouth first-team debut to help his side post 194 for seven.

And with the wicket worsening, left-arm spinner Dom Clutterbuck helped himself to five for 36 to help bowl out Sarisbury for 114 in reply.

Park told the Daily Echo: “We did celebrate. It’s not being blasé – if we can’t get two points in the first innings next week at Bournemouth, we need shooting.

“We had a few quiet beers and we all know that the league is ours now. We just need to play proper cricket over the next two weeks.”

Lions won the toss and elected to bat first in the crucial encounter, a decision the wicketkeeper-batsman believed was pivotal.

Park added: “The pitch we played on was an absolute shocker. It was such an important toss to win and they knew it as well.

“It was just a used pitch with no grass on it. It was a shame the pitch affected what was going to be a really big game.

“Nick (Park) and Luke Webb were out in the first four overs – they had two absolute shooters which didn’t bounce. It was slightly embarrassing on all fronts.

“The pressure of our spinners eventually told and the lads were really happy. It was a great team performance.”

Park himself dug in to record 34 from 52 deliveries, while opener Tom West (33) admirably stuck around.

But the captain was particularly impressed by the application shown by Price.

“How Pricey played on his debut was unbelievable,” he added. “He looked to counter-attack and hit the ball hard with some beautiful shots.

“For a young lad to come in at number four and do that was outstanding.”