SHAFTESBURY 185-3 (20pts) beat PUDDLETOWN 181 (5pts) by seven wickets

PUDDLETOWN are still searching for their first victory in County Division Two this season after a seven-wicket reverse against Shaftesbury.

With conditions unfit at Shaftesbury due to heavy rain, the match was moved to Shroton where a good batting surface awaited the teams, who have risen through the ranks together.

Puddletown skipper Adam Barrett won the toss and chose to bat, opening along with Kieran Knight (1).

However, Barrett would stand and watch from the other end as Shaftesbury worked their way through the Kingfishers’ batting line-up.

READ MORE: Dorchester Seconds beat Puddletown by 45 runs

By the time Barrett departed for a well-made and patient 68, Puddletown were 127-6 and managed to boost their total to 181 all out thanks to a robust 40 from Ryan Norman.

In reply, Shaftesbury rolled along comfortably at five runs per over, never seriously threatened by the Puddle attack as all their batters made useful contributions.

Dave Morris (2-42) accounted for openers George Johnson (23) and Matt Boatwright (22), but Simon Foulkes (40) picked up the baton with eight fours.

When James Morris (1-40) dismissed him, Shaftesbury needed only 64 runs to win.

And Sam Harris crashed a brutal 44 not out, including five fours and three maximums, leading his side home with 10.5 overs to spare, along with Kevin Monaghan (35no).

Speaking to Echosport, Barrett said: “They were a good side, it was a good pitch with small boundaries and it was the first time a lot of us had played there.

“We won the toss and batted and we saw what we’ve seen over the last few seasons, players getting starts and not kicking on.

“We finished on 181 which was probably below-par and it turned out that way. They chased it quite comfortably.

“I anchored the innings as such, was going well and then hit a rank half-tracker down deep square’s throat.

“It was a case of people not applying themselves, leaving it to someone else. If people aren’t going to score runs, you’re going to struggle to win games.

“We just needed to build partnerships and we didn’t do that.”

Puddletown Seconds lost by three runs to Shaftesbury Seconds in Division Five.