BOURNEMOUTH skipper Chris Park thwarted Havant’s spinners for 37 overs at Chapel Gate Park to secure an ECB Southern Premier League draw for the Lions – only to break his right middle finger in a T20 Cup tie at Lymington the following day.

Park put up the barricades for close on two hours and hit an unbeaten 77 to get a draw for Bournemouth, who had slumped to 49-5 after Havant had posted an imposing 279-5 with Harry Gadd and Chris Stone scoring maiden centuries.

“It was a great effort for us to bat 71 overs in total, particularly against such a good spin attack and full marks to Ollie Shrubsole for his solid contribution,” Park said.

But Park’s delighted turned to disappointment when he copped a ball on the end of his right had keeping wicket to teenager in Sunday’s SPL T20 Cup defeat at Lymington.

“The ball struck me on the top of my right middle finger. I knew straight away I’d broken it and X-rays have a revealed a double break, but it’s at the top of the finger and no knuckles are damaged.

“I’m optimistic about playing at Burridge on Saturday, to captain the side and play as a middle-order batsman, but we’ll have to wait and see, probably make a decision on Thursday evening,” he continued.

The league match against third-placed Havant began well for Bournemouth who, minus lead strike bowler Dan Conway, quickly removed openers Pete Hopson and teenager Charlie Whitfield.

Havant put another 226 runs on the board before Bournemouth broke through again – Gadd scoring 135 and Chris Stone 123

Gadd’s knock was the highest individual score in the SPL this season and contained four sixes and 11 fours, while Stone – who made an unbeaten 97 against Hook & Newnham Basics a week earlier – celebrated his maiden league hundred with two maximums and 12 fours.

Richard Jerry (4-17) ploughed into Bournemouth’s top order dismissing openers Tom Robinson and Tom Willoughby before bowling Dorset captain Luke Webb to leave the Lions 21-3.

In the process, Jerry strained a side muscle and alongside Nick Ward could miss Saturday’s match with Bashley.

Bournemouth sank deeper into the mire at 49-5 when Park joined Shrubsole (28) for a gritty stand that effectively salvaged a draw – the Wareham-based estate agent facing 130 deliveries before becoming a second victim for Richard Hindley.

That made it 116-6. There was still time, but Park, with 11 fours in his 77 not out, and his lower order teammates ensured Bournemouth forced a draw.

Bournemouth exited the T20 Cup with a four-wicket defeat at Lymington, where they had their hosts struggling at 32-4 before an unbeaten half-century by Josh Royan turned the tide.

Tom Robinson (39), Nick Park (27) and Lewis Freak (23) top scored in Bournemouth’s 132-3.