JAMES Park is aiming to realise two ambitions in the coming months – to fire Bournemouth up the table and earn a regular place in the Dorset team.

The Wimborne-based batsman will lead the Lions when they host St Cross Symondians at Chapel Gate tomorrow.

Park, who will stand in as skipper in the absence of Simon Watkins, is averaging more than 54 this term and is ninth in the Division One batting rankings.

Having scored an unbeaten 161 when he filled in for Watkins on the opening day of the campaign, the 23-year-old would love a repeat of that performance.

But Park admitted he had found runs hard to come by since that mammoth century.

He is determined to regain top form and boost the defending champions’ SPL chances as well as his own county quest, although he says he has work to do to climb the pecking order after making three appearances in this year’s unsuccessful MCCA Knockout Trophy campaign.

When asked about his Dorset prospects, Park told the Echo: “That is one of my aims. But I know they have got a few players coming back and the university students are available now, so I have got to put some scores on the board.

“Getting runs will help my cause and that is the plan.”

He added: “As long as the team is doing well, that is the main thing.

“It would be nice to get in the Dorset team but a few other people are scoring runs in the county at the moment.”

Bournemouth: J Park, N Park, Evans, House, Butler, C Ridley, S Ridley, Metcalfe, Denham, Porter, Staniford.

• Elsewhere in the top flight, Bashley will be hoping to get their title push back on track following last weekend’s defeat against rivals Havant.

They have named an unchanged team for their home clash against Alton.

Struggling Lymington will again be without Christian Pain and Damian Shirazi when they entertain Hampshire Academy.

Bashley: Neal, Sexton, Thurgood, Morris, Friedman, Baker, S Lilley, Maher, J Lilley, R Grierson, Nash.

Lymington: Treagus, Cowley, Kelly, Lammiman, Layman, Khan, Grierson, Elliott, Thacker, Beetham, Hunt.

• In Division Two, lowly New Milton are likely to have their work cut out when they entertain leaders Ventnor at Fernhill. Third-placed Rowledge visit Bournemouth seconds.

Bournemouth II: Kennedy, Scott, Allum, J Coombs, Hurley, Patel, Spicer, Cook, R Coombs, Russell, Biddle.

New Milton: L Beck, Hill, Adlem, Rose, Freeman, R Beck, Loader, Neal, Gargaro, Locke, Clark.