Purser stars as Stratford move to top of table
CRICKET
DEXTER Purser starred with ball and bat as Stratford-upon-Avon defeated Milford Hall to become joint leaders of Birmingham League Division Three.
Purser took three wickets and smashed 76 to help the Panthers overwhelm their Stafford visitors by seven wickets at Swans Nest Lane.
A defeat for previous pacesetters Rugby, against Old Hill, and a losing draw for Stourbridge, at Whitchurch, means Stratford’s win leaves level on points with Stourbridge.
Rugby have slipped to third, three points behind the top three.
Stratford skipper Chris Whelan won the toss and put Milford Hall into bat and the decision was quickly vindicated.
Milford Hall limped to 128 all out in 45.1 overs as spinners Purser (3-16) and James Urquhart (3-30) impressed.
A second-wicket stand of 39 between Aaron Afford (21) and Chris Becket (17) was the only moment of frustration for the hosts.
No 9 batsman Tom Webb top-scored with 23 not out but two run outs didn’t help their cause.
There was a wicket apiece for Richard Smith and Archie Walker.
Purser dominated the Stratford reply as they cruised home in the 32nd over.
The opener cracked ten fours and one six in his 76 not out off 79 deliveries and Declan Waddington added a more circumspect 25 off 71 balls.
Next Saturday, Stratford travel to Old Hill.
Stratford Seconds moved to third in the 2nd XI Division Two South after a three-wickets win away to Dorridge.
The hosts were all out for 187, with Muhammad Dogar snapping up 4-49 and Harry Jolly taking 3-41.
Stratford got to their target in 53.5 overs, with Matt Dutton, batting at No 8, top-scoring with 47 alongside other key contributions from Charlie Blake (40), James Harcourt (38no) and Adam Joseph (24).