Purton produced an improved performance but still went down by 73 runs at home to Hinton Charterhouse in their Gloucestershire & Wiltshire Division 1 encounter.

Hinton were asked to bat and despite losing Fossell in the fifth over made a good start against some indifferent bowling.

A second-wicket partnership of 142 put Hinton into a strong position with the score reaching 202 by the 30th over.

With a score in excess of 300 now looking likely, Purton were indebted to their opening bowlers, Preddy and Lancaster, for keeping the target down to 258 at the end of 45 overs. Hamilton top-scored with 104.

Purton's openers, Gardner and Booth, made a solid start to their reply, adding 76 for the first wicket.

But when Booth was out attempting to increase the run rate and Pugh was bowled in the next over, Purton's chase ran into trouble.

Without any real chance of winning, Purton continued to be positive and closed their innings on 184-5 thanks to Gardner (50), Sansum (45) and Danny Dunn's unbeaten 35.