TOM Bowler posted his second “daddy” hundred in as many weeks as Purton pulled further clear at the top of Wiltshire League Division One with a 189-run victory over Malmesbury.

The Wiltshire all-rounder smashed 167 not out just seven days after plundering 152 unbeaten runs off the Spye Park attack to set up the league leaders’ commanding total of 356-2 from their 45 overs.

With Akarshit Gomel spanking 132 in quick time down the other end, Purton dominated their local rivals, leaving Malmesbury needing eight an over in reply. Gomel pitched in with the ball, taking 4-38 as the visitors ended well short on 167-6.

Purton skipper Elliot Hill praised the batting displays of Bowler and Gomel after the game, saying: “The first half of the game was pretty similar to the last few weeks. Both of them, especially in the middle overs, put on a bit of a batting masterclass on how to rotate the strike.

“There weren’t many dot balls, they put away the bad balls and when they bowled a good ball it generally got worked for a single.

“We’ve seen how greedy these guys are when they bat and we need to pay attention to that and use it when we get the opportunity.

“Of course we’d like more time up in the middle but we’re not going to start complaining when they are putting on 360 to set us to defend.

“Credit to Malmesbury, although we pretty much set up a win unless something miraculous happened they were pretty resolute in trying to get as many batting point as they could and they frustrated us in the field.

“I wouldn’t say we put in our best performance in the field but we weren’t a million miles away from it and they managed to grind up to 160-odd for six so credit to them for the second half of the game.”

Hill’s men look shoe-ins for promotion back to the West of England Premier League following a two-year hiatus, and victory over Wootton Bassett next weekend would all but secure their elevation.

“We’ve made it into a must-win game for Bassett on Saturday now,” said Hill.

“If they lose to us on Saturday I struggle to see how they’re going to catch us and perhaps Urchfont as well.

“It’s a big game come Saturday and if we win that it probably makes it into a two-horse race for the title.”