Purnell 1st XI 200-9 Taunton St Andrews 2 201-4

Saturday, 28th May 2016

Purnell 1st XI fell to a six-wicket defeat at the hands of Taunton St Andrews 2’s on Saturday.

Batting first after losing the toss, skipper Matt Brooks (4) and Dec Redwood (20) started brightly, scoring at a run-a-ball until Redwood was caught at backward point in the fifth over. Three overs later, Brooks was looking to pull a short ball from Mooney to the boundary, but the ball just stuck in the damp pitch and he was through the shot early, popping a simple catch to Green at square leg.

Clatworthy was fortunate to pick up Phil Gregory (1) caught and bowled not long after, as the Purnell’s number four played his pad and the ball whilst driving, leaving the hosts in considerable trouble at 36-3.

A rebuilding job was required to post a defendable total, so when Kev Rogers (39) and Ronnie Casling (73) came together, the run-rate predictably slowed. The pair played themselves in brilliantly and put 95 runs on the board for the fourth wicket from 25 overs. Rogers played a crucial innings and did a fine job of frustrating the visiting bowlers with some watchful play, whilst Casling progressed at a slightly quicker strike rate to quieten the fielding side with some confident and controlled hitting.

Rogers was eventually caught in the 34th over, having got Purnell out of trouble and into a position to push on towards 200 and maximum batting points. Mike Francis (0) was in at six and got a good ball first up, proving the old adage that one very often brings two.

Casling was now getting into full flow and built another handy partnership of 49 with the useful Dan Prior (11) for the sixth wicket. The partnership took just 55 balls and got the home side back on track before Prior fell victim to a questionable LBW decision to depart with three overs to go.

Casling was next to go for a brilliant 73, with the score at 184-7, but useful contributions from the tail saw Purnell reach a respectable 200-9 from their 45 overs.

Taunton St Andrews began their run chase with a stutter, as Steve Jones (1-17) and Jack Hewish (2-48) were on target from the first ball.

Hewish was a real threat with some genuine pace to trouble the openers, and when T. Poole misjudged a straight ball he was cleaned up in the fourth over. Steve Jones was rewarded for his accuracy in the eleventh over when J. Poole was beaten outside off, and the skipper, Brooks, took a sharp stumping as Poole shuffled out of his crease momentarily.

Hewish trapped Ward LBW in the very next over and the visitors were 46-3 with the target looking a long way off.

However, just as the hosts had managed to dig in and build a partnership in the middle overs, St Andrews’ Captain, Jenkins, came out and put on 75 runs with J. Clapp (32) to wrestle the momentum back into their favour.

Clapp was out in the 25th over, caught by Gregory in Redwood’s first over. But by then the score was 121 and with Jenkins in good form the end seemed to be in sight.

Jenkins moved past his half century and saw the visitors over the line with five overs to spare, leaving Purnell’s with just fourteen points for their efforts.

This weekend the 1st XI travel to Barrington.

We would like to thank our match sponsor, Thomas Sanderson, for their continued support of the club.

Report by Dec Redwood