ELATED captain Chris Park hoped Bournemouth’s impressive victory over high-flying South Wilts proved a confidence boost for the rest of the season.

Lions held their nerve to ease their Southern Premier League relegation fears after a two-wicket success at Chapel Gate.

Dan Conway set the tone with an impressive five for 42 for the hosts, before Nick Park (51) and Adam Davies (41) totalled crucial knocks with the bat.

Park told the Daily Echo: “It was a great result and to finally get over the line in a close game is hopefully a big confidence boost to the lads that we can win.

“I’ve said all season I believe in the players. Individually they are good enough to play at this level.

“Getting over the line on Saturday was a massive bonus.”

Having won the toss and opted to bowl first, Bournemouth set to work in ruthless fashion.

They had the visitors in all sorts of trouble at 24 for four – Conway wiping out three of the top four.

An impressive unbeaten 106 from South Wilts’s Ben Draper sparked a brief revival but he ran out of partners as the visitors were skittled out for 191.

In reply, Nick Park and Davies guided the hosts to 89 following the dismissal of Luke Webb (5).

Alarm bells were ringing when Chris Park fell with 31 still needed, but Rob Pack proved the hero with an unbeaten 20 batting at nine – an innings which included two huge maximums.

“Rob’s little cameo at the end was the icing on the cake to what was a great team performance,” said wicketkeeper-batsman Park.

“Our bowling attack has been first-class all year. Conners has been bowling as well as ever all season and has probably not got the wickets he deserved.

“For him to get three early wickets and to have South Wilts on the back foot at 24 for four was a great start. The lads just continued it all the way through.

“Nick and Adam Davies put on a really solid partnership to put us in a good position. We did have a little wobble and the nerves crept in but Rob put that to bed very quickly with two huge sixes and two fours.”

Victory put Lions seventh in the table – more than three points on average ahead of bottom side Basingstoke & North Hants, who saw their home game with Havant washed out.

The skipper said: “Basingstoke not playing helped us claim a good points average but we go again on Saturday against Burridge and potentially could move above them.”