PURTON Exile Ladies lost a nail-biting South East Division 3 encounter by one wicket at home to Guildford.

Purton lost the toss and were put in to bat. Opener Radford (6) fell lbw, which brought Cath Amore to join Michelle Jackson with the score on 21.

The partnership put on 83 runs before Amore was bowled for 39 in the 25th over, with 104 on the board.

Jackson notched up her half century before falling. With Vicki Hathway (4) and skipper Jane Austin (11) Purton finished their allotted overs on 168-7.

At the start of the Guildford innings Purton took three quick wickets.

Austin got the first with an lbw in the second over, followed by Hathway bowling the other opener for a duck.

Austin struck again in the sixth over and Guildford were struggling on 14-3.

Guildford then began to hit out and were fortunate to find the gaps.

Kelly Lusted finally broke the partnership with the score on 89.

A Guildford player passed her 50 before finally being bowled by Jane Stokes. Guildford then required just 39 off 12 overs.

The victory total was reduced to 17 off six overs, but Radford took a wicket in each of her three overs, with wicket-keeper Jackson stumping one, leading a successful lbw appeal, and then waiting for a skied shot to land in her gloves.

With nine wickets down Guildford managed to scrape past Purton's score.