PHIL Park made light of some good-natured banter from his Cranborne team-mates to lead them to a 29-run triumph over Division One rivals St Georges.

The wily campaigner, who readily admits his military medium bowling is slowing with age, has been dubbed Mr Dibbly-Dobbly by his colleagues.

But after Cranborne had been restricted to 208, St Georges had no answer to Park, the 43-year-old club secretary claiming a five-wicket haul as they fell short.

Park (5-44) and young spinner Charlie Arnold (3-34) ripped the heart out of St Georges, reducing the Dorchester-based outfit to 179 in reply.

Earlier, Dan Adlem and Oli Hand had starred during an opening partnership of 130 as Cranborne had threatened to post a formidable target. But after Adlem (51) and Hand (61) had departed, a mini-collapse saw Cranborne fail to build on their promising start with Dan Loader (35) the only other batsman to contribute significant runs.

Cranborne bowling hero Park told the Daily Echo: “We played a team last season and they were calling me a dibbly-dobbly bowler. I do tend to get slower as the overs progress and the nickname has stuck!”

Park added: “We had a good opening partnership from Dan and Oli. We were 130 without loss at drinks and should have made more than 208. But that’s two wins from two and we have made a good start.”

While Cranborne top the embryonic Division One table, Parley are hot on their heels following a 30-run victory over neighbours Bournemouth.

Skipper Robbie Gunn led from the front after Bournemouth had won the toss and invited Parley to take first use of the Chapel Gate strip.

Gunn (56) shared a third-wicket stand of 85 with Alex Nippard (51) before Jamie Roe (30) added some vital runs down the order as Parley were dismissed for 206 (Jamie Biddle 3-45).

Teenagers George Russell and Jake Hurley put on 76 for the first wicket as Bournemouth made a solid start in reply. But after Gunn had removed Russell (33), Hurley (76) followed when he was snaffled by Darren Sargent off the bowling of Mitch Baker.

Gunn (4-28) also accounted for Curtis Watton, Simon Russell and Jonny Coombs, while a run-out and sharp catch added to his man-of-the-match display.

Dominic Clutterbuck, a 13-year-old prospect from the Parley academy, claimed the scalp of Rob Smith, while Baker (2-52) helped reduce Bournemouth to 176.

Ferndown Wayfarers (218-8) recorded a 26-run win over Swanage, while Shillingstone (227-5) toppled Winton by 46 runs.