Greenwood Park off the top after Datchworth defeat

Another dismal performance with the bat saw Greenwood Park fall to their second defeat in as many weeks.

Having been put in, the visitors were all out for 136 and Datchworth chased down the total inside 34 overs, winning by three wickets.

The result means Greenwood have slipped from top spot of Division Eight B and now trail new leaders Dunstable 3rds by four points.

Park started in terrible fashion and found themselves 49-5 after just 16 overs.

Some poor shot selection as well as a fantastic opening spell from Datchworth skipper Phil Nightingale, who finished with figures of 4-26 from 13 overs including seven maidens, put Park under serious pressure.

A stubborn 40 partnership between Chris Kent and Mubarak Zeb offered some resistance but when the former fell Greenwood were quickly all out.

Zeb finished on a highly respectable 47* but he was left stranded as Park disappointed once again when batting first.

In response, Datchworth raced to 104-3 off 22 overs, with Nigel Pointing scoring a quick half-century.

With just two needed to win the hosts looked extremely comfortable but some excellent bowling from Shaafat Hussain, 3 overs 2-5, gave Park the slimmest chance of the most unlikely of victories.

However, there were just not enough runs on the board for Greenwood as despite a strong effort with the ball they could not grab victory from the jaws of defeat.