AKKI Gomel’s four wickets in four balls helped put the gloss on a superb day for Purton as they kept themselves in the mix for a second successive promotion.

The India under 19 international ripped Devizes lower order apart to ensure a full 24 points for his side as the visitors were skittled for 110, the final four wickets falling to Gomel, in reponse to Purton’s 238-5 declared.

The hosts, who lost Gomel and Tom Bowler early on after being put in by Devizes, were indebted to a blistering 79-ball century from captain Elliot Hill, who hit 10 fours and four sixes en route to 106.

The win has now moved Purton into third place in the Wiltshire Division, just eight points behind Marshfield in the final promotion spot.

“The priority for this season was survival after our promotion from the Wiltshire League,” the skipper said. “Of course, going up would be a massive bonus, but the most important thing for me is that we are enjoying our cricket and playing with smiles on our faces.”

Hill was also delighted with how his side secured the win against the division’s basement side.

“The result was very pleasing,” Hill said. “We had two overs remaining, the game was already won - we were just pushing for bonus points.

“Then Akki struck. Four wickets in four balls is pretty special. He got two and then you start thinking perhaps he can get his hat-trick - and he did.

“But none of us expected him to go on and get that fourth.”

Gomel’s efforts saw the Purton overseas star finish with 5-12 from 5.4 overs, having removed Gary Rogers earlier in the innings.

Hill was also pleased that he was able to maintain his recent good form with the bat despite being ill in the days running up to the match.

“I’d been off work for a few days and I’d decided that I wasn’t able to do much running so I was targeting the boundary,” said Hill, who struck 14 boundaries.

“It was just one of those innings when everything clicked into place.”