PURTON fell just 23 runs short of their run chase as high-flying Marshfield took over at the top of the table on Saturday.

After winning the toss, the home side elected to field but Jeremy Bond would prove to be a thorn in their side.

By the time Bond had been caught out by Samuel Bull for 102, the score was already at 181-4.

At 200-5, Purton were in danger of facing a huge total but with quick dismissals needed, Samuel Bull caught Matt Watson for a duck before Marshfield closed on 242-8.

Purton made a steady start in reply and reached 78-2 but began to lose momentum.

They lost wickets steadily before a stand of 92 between Elijah Samuel (58) and Tom Whittaker (42) took them within range of the target.

Whittaker was out at 195-5 and the final four were skittled for just two runs, both captain Aaron Lee and Imran Ashraf dismissed for a duck.

Nic Badings (3-25) and three wickets for nine runs in 13 balls from Ben Gardner saw Purton come up short.

Purton skipper Lee said: “We were a little bit behind and we weren’t playing our best cricket but we did well to restrict them.

“They could have easily scored over 300, we can take a positive from that.

“It was disappointing for us, especially for me on a personal level, I was shocking. I had a poor day and we just weren’t at the races.

“We are still not too far from the top of the league.

“If someone had said to me we would be in this position I would snap your hand off, but it was disappointing more than anything.”