Adrian Holmes struck a brilliant unbeaten hundred but his efforts were in vain as the Seconds let victory slip from their grasp on Saturday.
The in-form opener carried his bat, hitting 106 off 154 balls, as he held his side’s innings together asgainst North Enfield.
All his early partners perished cheaply as they struggled to 59 for 5 before Ben Orchard (18) and then Shaun Carmody (28 not out) finally offered some support to lift the Park to 186 for 7.
With Guy Warman, captaining in the absence of Sam McCrow, taking two for 43 in a marathon 17 overs, the Park were firmly in the hunt for victory.
Under-16 off spinner Jack Orchard bagged two for 38 off nine overs and, bowling in partnership with young leggie Jason Timm, applied plenty of pressure at both ends.
But too many catches went begging as a match-winning eighth-wicket stand guided North Enfield home in an excellent contest the Park could so easily have won.
Sublime: Adrian Holmes’ superb century held the Seconds’ innings together
