PUDDLETOWN 140-4 (18pts) beat BROADSTONE 156-8 (4pts) by six wickets (DLS revised target 139)

PUDDLETOWN earned what could be a crucial second win of the Dorset Premier League season with a comfortable rain-affected six-wicket success over Broadstone at Plush.

Victory, and the 18 points gained, lifted Puddletown into ninth above Cattistock & Symene.

Adam Barrett’s men now enjoy a 15-point cushion over the Foxes heading into the second half of the season.

READ MORE: Bere Regis beat Puddletown by eight wickets

Puddletown were invited to field after losing the toss but Broadstone lost early ground as Adam Weir (3-26) shone with the ball.

The Puddletown all-rounder bowled Broadstone’s top three, accounting for Frankie Gamble (0), Saathvik Kondreddy (11) and the classy Dan Cook (21).

Dave Morris (1-37) also removed Matty Whittle (6) cheaply as Broadstone struggled.

Puddletown, showing more attacking intent than in previous games, continued to chip away at the Broadstone line-up.

They ensured no Broadstone batter made a big score as Dan Smith and Charlie Groves both went for 23.

Harry Leadbeater (18) and Jamie Harlowe (11) scored well late on and 22 extras boosted Broadstone to 156-8 from 38 overs in a rain-interrupted innings, despite Rob Snow’s 3-29.

In their reply, Puddletown rebuilt well after the early loss of Jamie Edwards (7) to Mike Holm as Snow (48) and Barrett (38) maintained the more aggressive approach.

Peter Thompson took the brunt of their change in attitude, conceding 36 from three overs as the duo broke the back of their adjusted 139 target from 29 overs.

Both players fell short of a half-century after sharing almost 100.

But the job was finished off by Gordon Wint (17no) and Weir (12), the latter a consolation scalp for Smith (1-7) as Puddletown closed out their second win.

Speaking to Echosport, Barrett said: “We played really well and it was quite comfortable. Broadstone, to be honest, weren’t as good as I thought they were going to be.

“I think they might’ve had some players missing. They’ve won four games this season, which is hard to believe.

“Maybe we got a bit lucky but it was good to get the win, regardless, and a good performance to go with it.

“We bowled really well, Weir got the first three batters including Dan Cook, who’s a really good player. To get him out early was a big moment in the game.

“Rob and Ryan (Norman) bowled really well. We said we were going to be more aggressive in how we play and that’s worked for us.

“We kept them to an achievable total but with rain about we kept coming off. We lost overs in the run chase but we were always confident.

“We’ve knocked it off inside 23 overs in the end, so a really good effort from everyone.”

Elsewhere, Puddletown Seconds beat Poole Town Fourths by 43 runs in County Division Five.