PURTON skipper Aaron Lee cut a relieved figure when he led his struggling side to a nine-wicket success over Winsley to end a three-match losing run.

After going into the game on the back of three defeats, the strike bowler ripped through the home batting line-up with six wickets in 10 overs as Winsley were skittled out for just 74.

And Purton required just 67 balls to claim the comprehensive victory, with Sam Shelford unbeaten on 36 and Tom Bowler 24 not out.

“It was a great relief (to get the win),” Lee said.

“It was a really important game and we stressed that to all the players before the game.

“As a captain, I could not have asked for any more from the players – it was a great team performance.”

Despite going into the match at The Downs on the back of three defeats, Lee felt that Purton had been showing glimpses of what they are capable of.

And having had their hosts at 34-7, the Purton skipper knew that his side could not let them off the hook after Winsley beat them earlier in the season in a low-scoring match.

“I think this performance has been coming,” Lee said. “There have been times when we have batted well or bowled well or neither.

“(When they were 34-7) I knew that we had to be ruthless.

“They are capable of batting down the order as they showed at our place.

“This was an important win and it gives us a bit more breathing space between us and the bottom two – and that is our ultimate aim this year.”

Marlborough lost their place at the summit as they fell to a 22-run defeat at Marshfield.

The hosts were bowled out for 246 with James Williams leading the way with 75, but Marlborough were dismissed for 224.