Cricket: Marlborough v Purton – Tale of two Georges as Marlborough demolish Purton

Match Report

West Of England Premier League (Wilts Division)

Purton Vs Marlborough   23rd May 2015

Marlborough 249-5:  Purton  100 all out

Marlborough won by 149 Runs

Marlborough having been put in to bat by their hosts lost Tom Jacques in the 6th over for 3 with the score on 11 and was replaced by Ben Head who with George Penfold put on a 74 run partnership before Head was caught off  Dale Bowler’s bowling for 37. Marlborough’s Captain Arran Dickinson joined Penfold at the wicket and the pair kept the score ticking over and had added another 48 runs to the total when Dickinson was run out in the 32nd over.

James Richardson and Penfold then continued to add to the scoreboard frustrating the Purton bowling attack and taking the score to 212 when Richardson was bowled by Adam Woolford for 38. With Penfold comfortably in control and closing in on his century Marlborough’s Brad Frost and Tom Palmer batted around Penfold and he secured his maiden league 100 in the 49th over. Penfold finished on 102 not out having carried his bat through out the innings facing 146 balls of which he scored eleven 4’s.

Purton in response never got to grips with the Marlborough strike pair of George Fox and Frost as they took apart the Purton batting. Fox was again on top form and struck in the 2nd and 4th overs dismissing Mark Gardner and Neil Little with only 10 on the scoreboard. Frost then joined in on the action with the dismissal of Tom Bowler for 1.  Purton then regularly lost wickets as Marlborough pressed home their advantage with Fox picking up two more wickets. Purton’s Zurain Quershi being the only batsman to show any real resistance top scoring with 30 before being bowled by Head.

Purton were finally bowled out for 100 in the 29th over 149 short of the Marlborough total. Fox finished with 4 for 27 off his 10 overs. A delighted Marlborough Captain said after the game.

“This was a big game for us today and I have no doubt a lot of teams will now be taking our title challenge very seriously. The George’s were outstanding today. Penners (Penfold) set us up fantastically and batted very well. The rest of the boys batted around him as the anchor and the team batted as a unit which is something we have worked on a lot this season. The bowlers did the same with Foxy (Fox) taking the lead but was ably backed up by the others. I’m delighted by the result and our all-round team performance. I am sure we can kick on from here with a real challenge on this year’s title.”