PUDDLETOWN 269-8 (20pts) beat ASHMORE 164 (7pts) by 105 runs

PUDDLETOWN recovered from a shaky start to beat third-placed Ashmore by a whopping 105 runs in County Division Three.

First blood in the match went to Ashmore, who were asked to field, with openers Alby Stevens (24) and Lucas Allen (7), both falling to reckless aerial shots.

Ashmore’s Simon Trepess (5-39) ripped through the Puddletown top order, along with Graham Hipworth (2-39), to leave the hosts in serious trouble at 62-7.

But Tom Blair (98no) launched a titanic 90-run partnership with Mike Hoffmann (30), who played the anchor role to guide Puddletown to 152-7 until the latter fell to Lee Russel (1-51).

Number 10 batsman Steven Chaldecott (68no), given a reprieve from an lbw, continued the punishment with a 110-run stand which was as aggressive as it was unbreakable to help the hosts post 269-8 from their 45 overs.

Ashmore started well with the bat, moving the score quickly to 89 as Puddletown’s opening bowlers Adam Weir (0-23) and Callum Chaldecott (2-38) toiled in the baking sunshine.

Opening pair Julian Watson (20) and away skipper Andy Taylor (36) looked to snatch the

initiative back from their opponents with a promising first-wicket stand.

However, it was the dual introduction of man-of-the-match Blair (2-22) and left-arm spinner Rob Snow (4-48) that changed the course of the innings.

Blair first bowled Watson and when he picked up Russell for 14, caught in the ring by home captain Adam Barrett, things began to look bleak for the visitors.

With wickets tumbling to Scottish trickster Snow at the other end, only Chris Gray (27) showed true grit to offer any resistance to the now upbeat attack.

When Callum Chaldecott returned to remove his off stump with a crackerjack of a delivery, it was left to captain Barrett to remove the tail with a brace of wickets that fell fortuitously to the busy and alert in-field.

Ashmore closed on 164 all out and Puddletown, who claimed a maximum-point win were left to reflect on a game which saw them snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

Puddletown, who remain in second just nine points behind leaders Shaftesbury at the halfway point of the season, now have a 27-point gap to Ashmore in third.

Barrett’s men, who have Blair’s services for just two more games, host Hamworthy Recreation Seconds on Saturday (1.30pm) at Puddletown Rec in their next County Division Three encounter.

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