PURTON maintained their impressive start to the season as they bounced straight back to winning ways with a comfortable win on the road at Great Bedwyn last weekend.

Seven days after being beaten by Marlborough, Purton were back in east Wiltshire once again on Saturday but the villagers enjoyed contrasting fortunes this time out as they ran out 88-run winners.

Despite skipper Aaron Lee missing the game, after being put in to bat first, Purton responded by soaring past the 300-run mark before exerting enough pressure with the ball to skittle Bedwyn with just over six overs to spare.

“It was a very good performance. We were really good with the bat and even though we weren’t as good with the ball, we still did enough to win the game,” said vice-captain Tom Bowler.

“That was the best score that we’ve got so far with the bat this season, so that was good to see, and the bowling is something that we’ll look to do better with in training this week.

“We didn’t have Aaron but we’ve been keeping pretty much the same side in games so far this season and I think that’s helped us – it’s not like last year, where we struggled to get the same side out.

“We’re enjoying ourselves at the moment but we’re not getting carried away by anything.

“We’re just enjoying playing games and we’ll see where it takes us.”

Xander Pitchers led the Purton charge with a knock of 65 from 58 deliveries whilst fellow opener Sam Shelford was in even deadlier form as he weighed in with 88.

Bedwyn’s Max Andrews took 3-48 but Santosh Iyengar also added 52 as the visitors posted a hearty 307-6.

In reply, the home side’s John Palmer (48), Casey Grocke (39) and Andrews (34) all did their best to mount a fightback but Namibian Pitchers was influential again as he claimed 4-31.

Patrick Whittaker also took 3-44 to turn the screw on Bedwyn, who were dismissed for 219 in the 44th over to hand Purton, who currently sit third in the WEPL Wiltshire table, their fourth victory of the season so far.