Stratford cement top spot in Warwickshire Premier Division with eight-wicket success at Moseley Ashfield

Warwickshire League, Premier Division

Moseley Ashfield 236 all out

Stratford 239-2

Stratford won by eight wickets

SKIPPER Dexter Purser took three wickets and scored an unbeaten 83 to fire leaders Stratford to an impressive eight-wicket victory over Moseley Ashfield on Saturday.

Moseley got off to a disastrous start after opting to bat first, with the hosts slumping to 18-3.

Hayden Evans was first to go with the score on one after being dismissed by Tom Grundy (3-27) and then it was 5-2 when Archie Walker (3-18) removed Luke Baker.

Grundy then had skipper Oliver Thomas caught out to leave the hosts reeling.

Just 29 more runs were added when James Urquhart (1-41) removed Warwick Paull.

From a slow start, Moseley’s middle order steadied the ship, with Alex Perry (51) and John Pemberton (70) putting on 73 runs before the former was sent back to the pavilion by Grundy.

More consistent running from Moseley’s middle order saw Pemberton and Kasir Shah (50) crash another 49 runs until Pemberton eventually departed, the first of Purser’s three wickets.

Purser then clean-bowled Phil Jefferies not long after to leave Moseley at 189-7.

The Stratford skipper then removed Ian Carey to finish with figures of 3-47 from seven overs.

Walker returned to the attack to take the remaining two wickets, including the prized wicket of Shah, to end Moseley’s innings on 236 all out in the final over.

In reply, Stratford played a patient game, with openers Purser and Gareth Langman putting on 69 runs for the first wicket before the latter was trapped lbw by Sultan Afsal.

Burford was next to the crease and had to work hard for his 16 runs off 42 balls before he was caught by Afsal off the bowling of Shah, with Stratford now at 114-2.

That would be the last wicket to fall as Purser and Josh Hickman (52 not out) forged a match-winning third-wicket partnership to guide Stratford to 239-2 in the 42nd over.

Purser finished unbeaten on 83 off 112 balls, which included 11 fours.