Dean leads Purbrook to Home triumph

The Purbrook Heath side were indebted to a fine individual display from Aaron Dean, though, who followed up his unbeaten knock of 53 with six wickets to steer the hosts to a nervy four-wicket win.

Skipper Lee said: ‘It was another good win, although we had to dig it out after making it hard for ourselves.

‘After setting them 230 to win, we were trying our best to lose it!

‘But in the end we had a good 20-over spell after drinks where our bowlers put the run rate beyond them.

‘Aaron Dean was the clear man of the match for us.

‘He bats at eight but is an all-rounder really.’

Portsmouth & Southsea also continued their winning start to the new campaign with a seven-wicket triumph over Burridge II at St James’ Hospital.

Visitors Burridge failed to hit top form and their score of 203 for eight never looked like being enough to trouble in-form Portsmouth.

The hosts reached the victory target for the loss of just three wickets as Steve Clement led the way with an unbeaten knock of 74, with Matt Smith hitting 54.

Bishop’s Waltham (138 all out) are stilll searching for their first win of the campaign after falling 11 runs short at St Cross Symondians.

Fareham & Crofton are also yet to taste victory after they lost at Ventnor II, failing to chase down the home side’s score of 248 for eight.

The visitors fell 16 runs short with 232 for six in reply.

In division two, title contenders Bedhampton earned back-to-back victories with a 39-run success at Compton & Chandler’s Ford, thanks to Martyn Hovey (82).

Meanwhile in division four, James Swaine (57) was again Emsworth’s key man as they continued their winning momentum with a 142-run triumph at Colden Common.