Nick's knock is the best for Sean (From Bournemouth Echo)

Nick's knock is the best for Sean

7:00am Wednesday 26th August 2009 in

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BOSS Sean Walbridge watched Nick Park rewrite the Dorset record books – and then described the opener’s colossal 219 as “the best knock I’ve ever seen from a Dorset player”.

Park’s stunning innings came as Walbridge’s side looked to reverse a first-innings deficit of 173 on day two of their Minor Counties Championship clash against Wiltshire at Dean Park.

After being dismissed for just 127 first time out, former Hampshire star Greg Lamb then blasted 113 at a run a ball as the visitors declared their first innings on 300 for nine.

But despite being well behind the eight ball, Park and Glyn Treagus (51) set Dorset’s stall out on day two, before Park tore up another record to share a new county best 10th wicket stand of 157 with fellow Bournemouth star Dave Kidner.

And after Dorset’s 414 left Wiltshire needing 241 on a dusty, turning strip at Dean Park, the home side last night clinched victory by just four runs as Wiltshire were dismissed for 237.

A beaming Walbridge said: “Nick was studious in his defence and vicious in attack. He latched on to any bad ball that was bowled and in the context of the match for us it was a massive innings and quite rightly a new Dorset best score.

“It was the best knock I’ve ever seen from a Dorset player.

“Nick and Glyn put on 140 for the first wicket and then suddenly we were five wickets down. It was a bizarre day.

“There was a little partnership between Nick and Matt Metcalfe, before the last pair put on 157. It was just amazing.

“Dave wouldn’t normally bat at 11 but he was nursing an injury from Sunday and didn’t think he would be fit enough to bat.

“They enjoyed batting together though and it was a fantastic result for both of them on that front as well.

“It was a case of blood and guts for Dorset from Nick and he batted as if his life depended on it. He was in the zone and he just kept going with great support from Glyn and Dave at the end.”

Park’s score eclipsed Steve Selwood’s unbeaten 204 against Wales Minor Counties at Abergavenny in 2005, while the 10th wicket stand with Kidner was five better than Richard Pineo (88*) and Martin Ford’s (77) partnership of 152 at the same game.

Yesterday’s dramatic win, meanwhile, was largely down to skipper Tom Hicks, who finished with impressive figures of six for 82.

Glyn Treagus (2-28), Phil Warren (1-30) and Matt Metcalfe (1-58) also chipped with vital scalps as Dorset’s final Western Division game went down to the wire.

Walbridge added: “It was in the balance all day really, but we just kept chipping away and taking wickets.

“We fancied the pitch to spin and that proved the case with Tom taking six wickets and Glyn taking two.

“He normally leads from the front and did so in this match. He really made it happen for us.”