
Only the 3rd XI avoided defeat this weekend, and it's a performance from their game that has earned this week's IDE Player of the Week award - the winner being Sam Speak for his half-century.
Wicket-keeper Sam had already played on the Saturday in the 2nd XI, having done them a massive favour by playing despite only returning to the country at 7am that morning from Germany. He played with no sleep (apart from ten minutes in the car and another ten in the changing room!).
17-year-old Sam had impressed everyone at the club over the winter with some great performances in the indoor league, and a fantastic showing at winter nets, and now that potential is really starting to show. This is his second 50 of the season and third senior half-century of his career.
He opened the batting for the 3rd XI on Sunday with the club facing an uphill task of chasing 240 at New Brighton. Park would eventually bat out for the draw, finishing on 202-5 with Sam's innings of 66 proving vital to ensuring the team avoided defeat.
He also added a victim behind the stumps after taking a catch off the bowling of Paul Morris as his glove-work continues to improve - the future looks bright for the young Park 'keeper!
There were another couple of impressive innings that deserve an honourable mention this week; Martin Evans hit 64 in the 1st XI's loss to Haslington, and Gagandeep Bali hit his first fifty since joining the club with a knock of 57 in the 3rd XI's draw at New Brighton.
Wicket-keeper Sam had already played on the Saturday in the 2nd XI, having done them a massive favour by playing despite only returning to the country at 7am that morning from Germany. He played with no sleep (apart from ten minutes in the car and another ten in the changing room!).
17-year-old Sam had impressed everyone at the club over the winter with some great performances in the indoor league, and a fantastic showing at winter nets, and now that potential is really starting to show. This is his second 50 of the season and third senior half-century of his career.
He opened the batting for the 3rd XI on Sunday with the club facing an uphill task of chasing 240 at New Brighton. Park would eventually bat out for the draw, finishing on 202-5 with Sam's innings of 66 proving vital to ensuring the team avoided defeat.
He also added a victim behind the stumps after taking a catch off the bowling of Paul Morris as his glove-work continues to improve - the future looks bright for the young Park 'keeper!
There were another couple of impressive innings that deserve an honourable mention this week; Martin Evans hit 64 in the 1st XI's loss to Haslington, and Gagandeep Bali hit his first fifty since joining the club with a knock of 57 in the 3rd XI's draw at New Brighton.