Purnell 1st XI 147-3 Watchet 146-10

Purnell 1st XI picked up their first win of the season on Saturday with a convincing seven wicket victory over visitors, Watchet. PCC Captain, Matt Brooks, came out on top at the toss, inviting the guests to bat first on a fairly even surface.

Opening the bowling for the hosts, Steve Jones (0-19) was predictably on target from ball one, providing a level of accuracy and consistency which is unrivalled in the division. Steve was a constant threat whilst giving very little scoring opportunities to the batsmen.

After an impressive spell of bowling last week, young Jack Hewish got the nod to open at the other end and he immediately put the batsmen under pressure. By the 10th over, Watchet had managed just 24 runs and when Hewish produced a swinging delivery to bowl Manley (5) it was well deserved. Just 3 balls later, Hewish found another top delivery to bowl Bishop for a duck, rounding off a great over in style.

Watchet opener Lovell (50) played cautiously to avoid a collapse, building 30+ run partnerships with Ketchen (10) and Strong (3) on his way to a defiant half-century. Change bowlers Matt Johnson (2-23) and Dec Redwood (0-32) struggled with consistency and couldn’t follow up the Jones/Hewish display, Johnson picking up 2 wickets to further slow the run-rate.

Freddie Lenihan (4-13) and Ben Snook (0-18) came into the attack with the score 103 for 4 and Lenihan changed the game with a disciplined spell of bowling which removed opener Lovell and blew away the middle order.

Captain Brooks came up with a smart piece of fielding to run out Woolgrove (9) with a direct hit and with Snook keeping things tight in support of Lenihan, the final 4 wickets fell for just 22 runs. The Watchet innings ended in the 41st over with the target set at 147 to win.

The run chase began positively as Redwood (35) and Brooks looked to make a dent in the target before losing a wicket. The former scoring at a run a ball which had the run rate peaking at almost 7 an over after the first 10.

With the runs required now under 100, Redwood was looking for his third maximum to move into the 40s, but he could only edge a full delivery from the left-armed Bowden onto his stumps and the 62 run partnership was broken.

Kev Rogers (3) was next to come to the middle, but when he fell victim to Woolgrove in the 17th over, this brought Phil Gregory (34) to the crease.

Gregory settled in early and built a reassuring partnership with Brooks, who was starting to look set for a score. With a flurry of boundaries coming from both batsmen through the middle overs the result was never really in doubt. Indeed by the time Gregory was bowled by the young spinner Walsh (1-15) in the 29th over, Purnell only needed another 18 runs for victory.

Dan Prior (0*) was in at 5 to see Brooks move past his first half century of the season and the captain finished off the run chase with a single into the leg side to make sure of 35 points for the home side. The club would like to thank match sponsors Farmborough Tyres for their support.

This weekend Purnell travel to Kilmington and Stourton.