PUDDLETOWN 275-4 (20pts) beat CHALKE VALLEY 260 (10pts) by 15 runs

PUDDLETOWN came out on top in a run feast against Chalke Valley to secure their position as County Division Four league leaders.

Puddletown were put into bat by the opposition, who may have rued that decision even after the first few overs.

Openers Lucas Allen (81), with a typical barrage of hefty bludgeons to the leg side, and the stylish Allby Stevens, climbed into the Chalke openers, racing to 130-0 at drinks.

After drinks Chalke managed to extract the two openers, only to be subdued Tim Orford (44) and late runs from the trio of Adam Barrett, Michael Crabbe and Adam Weir.

Toiling with a non-swinging ball, Kevin Monoghan (1-44) and Anthony Mercer (0-33) were the pick of the Chalke bowlers.

Chalke Valley showed their intent early on in the second innings, gamefully seeing off Puddletown's normally potent opening bowlers without loss.

Bat continued to dominate ball until three wickets fell in quick succession to seamers Laurie Stevens and Mike Hoffmann.

However, an identical 130 runs at drinks proved that the chase was well and truly on for the spirited Valleymen.

Post-drinks, the Chalke pairing of the Ben Millar (76) and Harry Hitchens (54) accumulated runs both skilfully and powerfully, with Millar in particular playing a series of back foot cover drives.

It was the crucial intervention of slow bowler Orford, however, who broke the gathering tension. He tempted the skilful Millar, who duly obliged by driving loftily to Barrett at mid-on.

It was a crucial moment in the game, as man of the match Millar was without doubt the player most likely to anchor a successful run-chase.

Hitchens soon followed, picked up by Callum Chaldicott, who confidently pouched a steepling return catch to effectively end a near brilliant assault on Puddletown's 275.

Puddletown’s Steve Chaldicott (2-47) and the miserly David Morris subsequently strangled any chance of a recovery from the tail, leaving Chalke a mere 15 runs short.