PURTON’S Aaron Lee admits it has been a tough job taking on the captaincy this season.

The strike bowler replaced Elliot Hill at the helm of the Wiltshire Division club this summer and, having endured some mixed results over the course season, Lee fired back last weekend with a starring role in the nine-wicket success over Winsley to end a three-match losing run.

As the club prepares to host high-flying Westbury, Lee is confident they have the players to ensure their survival.

“It has been a tough (being captain), I won’t shy away from it,” Lee said.

“We lost a lot of players last year and we have, at times, been muddling through.

“But am I confident in the lads we have got. The lads were buzzing on Saturday, it did help that we won.

“Hopefully they can see what we are trying to do here. The aim is to consolidate this season and then push on. But I have enjoyed it, it makes a change from just running in to bowl.”

Although Purton will be without opening batsman and new signing Sam Shelford for visit of the team sitting third in the table, they are able to welcome back rising star Elijah Samuel after he missed the Winsley win due to playing for Hampshire’s academy.

The win over Winsley saw Purton move 31 points away from the bottom two and a potential double-demotion due to the league’s restructuring next term.

“We think that we need two wins to make us safe” Lee said. “But we don’t want to stop just there. We want to win as many games as we can between now and the end of the season.

“It is close league and with the exception of Marlborough and Trowbridge, and Westbury at times, everyone is capable of beating each other.

“All we can do is focus on ourselves, the bonus points could also be key too. We know Saturday is a big game - a tough game, but we go into the match knowing that we have already beaten them this year. ”