PUDDLETOWN 134 (5pts) lost to CHARLTON DOWN 135-4 (20pts) by 6 wickets

CHARLTON Down are top of County Division Five after a convincing six-wicket home victory saw them leapfrog rivals Puddletown and reach the summit.

A mature all round performance from 17-year-old Matt Stevens was key to the hosts’ success.

Puddletown elected to bat and were soon in trouble.

The talented Lucas Allen dispatched the first ball of the innings to the square-leg boundary but Matt Stevens then bowled Allen through the gate with his very next ball.

Stevens then had Tim Orford well caught by Mark Homewood in his second over, leaving Puddletown reeling on 7-2 early.

The experienced head of Puddletown captain Barry Knight and Chris Clarke set about rebuilding the innings.

The change bowlers cashed in on the opening bowlers’ efforts when Javed Gill bowled Clarke for nine with a well-executed yorker with the score on 37-3.

The turn to slow bowling paid off with Kim Park (2-34) changing up his flight to deceive the experienced ex-Dorchester man David Morris. He mistimed a sweep and was adjudged leg before and the evergreen Knight lofted a drive to the safe hands of Matt Stevens at cover for a patient 16.

With the Puddletown score on 75-5, Steve Chaldicott (38) and Adam Weir (16) decided to go on the offensive and some clean striking by the former had the scoreboard ticking. It was only a slower full toss from Homewood (2-21) that was well caught by John Clancy which ended Chaldicott’s stay at the crease.

Wickets continued to fall and the Puddletown innings drew to a close in the 33rd over when Matt Stevens picked up his third wicket, bowling Alex Fairman – the visitors posting 134.

The Charlton Down innings started cautiously against some tight bowling.

It was the talented left-arm medium pace of youngster Alex Fairman (2-22) who struck first, bowling Jae Miller with the score on 19-1.

Weir dismissed Alex Campbell for a patient 12 when a top edge flew to Morris at deep point with the score on 32-2.

This brought together Jack Eveleigh and Matt Stevens who batted with great maturity. Their 50-run partnership came up with a glorious cover drive by Stevens.

It was eventually left to Park (16) and Gill (8) to hit the winning runs with seven overs remaining.