PURTON should really have taken advantage of an impressive performance in the field as they slipped to defeat.

Purton produced an excellent bowling and fielding display and needed only 120 from 50 overs to win but it was their hosts who triumphed by a 20-run margin.

Purton elected to bowl on another green wicket. Despite an opening partnership of 32 Hinton never got to grips with the conditions, with Preddy (3-15), Joe Dunn (3-4) and Bowler (2-33), backed up by some good ground fielding and excellent catching by Pugh, taking the wickets.

However, Purton's batting again let them down folding to 99 all out in the 43rd over.

Only Danny Dunn, with a gritty 40, and Bowler, with an unbeaten 13, showed the sort of application Purton required if they were to have produced a victory.