Stur hit 199 in 19 overs to thrash Puddletown

PUDDLETOWN 194 (6pts) lost to STURMINSTER & HINTON 199-0 (20pts) by 10 wickets

PUDDLETOWN were undone by a breathtaking batting performance from Sturminster & Hinton in County Division Two.

The Kingfishers may have been depleted but even at full strength would have struggled against the visitors, who chased 195 for no loss in just 19.3 overs.

Their remarkable win was fuelled by the power hitting of former Hampshire youth all-rounder Bertie Hebburn-Heath.

He launched a succession of trademark hits to all corners of Puddletown Rec on his way to a blistering 107 not out.

READ MORE: Puddletown beat Charlton Down by 51 runs - report

Laurence Moore (61no) ably reinforced his efforts as Puddletown’s light attack were put to the sword.

Earlier in the day, Stur had chosen to field after winning the toss but found the going tough as openers Freddie Fowles (1-55) and Harry Lewis (0-43) were repelled.

Stur’s change bowlers did the business as left-arm seamer Will Tremlett (4-33) and the off-spin of Hebburn-Heath (2-35) crashed through the top order.

Michael Crabb (38) and Charlie Eccleson (15) were the only members of the top six to breach double figures.

So, Puddletown were hugely grateful to Alex Fairman’s 63 and 20 from Lewis Gower to get them to 194, a total arrived at following Moore’s late 3-28.

However, on an artificial wicket always conducive to good scores, Stur turned the match into a T20 and punished any delivery erring in accuracy to ruthless effect, winning with a whopping 153 balls remaining.

Speaking to Echosport following the defeat, skipper Adam Barrett said: “We were battered, really. No two ways about it.

“(Hebburn-Heath) smacked it to all parts but the week before, none of the five bowlers that played against Charlton Down were playing.

“It really showed but fair play to him, he’s still got to hit the bowling and he’s done that very well.

“It was inevitable. We could’ve probably hit 300 and it wouldn’t have been enough.

“But, well done to the lads that did play. They dug in and picked up a few points.

“It could’ve been a lot worse, especially if we’d have fielded first.”

Puddletown Seconds were unable to salvage a win for the club this weekend, losing by 125 runs at Stalbridge Development in Division Five.

Stalbridge’s Andy Dike (80) and Matthew Coleman (91) piled on the runs with the help of 57 extras as the hosts posted 262-4 from their 40 overs.

In reply, Nick Lorimer made a spirited 46 for Puddletown but Stalbridge’s Adam Ridgeway claimed 2-17 to end with the home side’s best figures on the day.

Tom Donnelly (2-24) and Hamish Joly (2-35) also bagged two wickets apiece.