PURLEY ON THAMES crashed out of the National Village Cup as they lost the Berkshire final by six wickets to Cookham Dean on Sunday, writes Richard Ashton.

The Potters chose to bat and made a brisk start as Max Baker-Smith and James Denton put on 47 until the latter was bowled by Sim Mangat (2-14).

Baker-Smith followed with no further runs having been made, holing out at long on to Sawan Gandesha (2-20) as the spinners started to turn the screw.

Influential captain Patrick Allen fell for just four to make it 56-3, and when Simon Foster claimed 3-31, Purley were in trouble at 101-7.

Will Detheridge and Pahi Selveratnam added 33 for the eigth wicket, but the Potters then lost their last three wickets all on 134, Greg Davis enacting a run out before he took 2-2 in his solitary over of the afternoon.

The away side gave themselves an early boost when Andy Jackson bowled Cookham captain Ben Millar for six, and Vikram Kamath then caught Matt Lowden off Allen to make it 39-2.

Christy Green survived an early chance and made Purley pay for their drop as he made a match-defining 40 before being stumped off Sam Seville.

Greg Davis fell for a duck, and at 86-4, the visitors had a chance.

However, Jake Richardson (32no from 35) came in and changed the momentum, and with Gandesha (21no) playing the anchor role, Cookham knocked the runs off in 31.3 overs without losing another wicket.

Cookham Dean now enter the last 32, where they will play Oxfordshire champions Aston Rowant on Sunday, June 25.

  • PURLEY ON THAMES return to Thames Valley League Division 3a action this Saturday, hosting Wokingham 2nds (1pm).

In Division 6b, Purley on Thames 2nds had the better of a draw against Cove 3rds.

Andrew Clarke (110no) made his maiden league century and Tejpal Singh also added 67 as Purley declared on 277-8 off 48 overs, and Cove could only crawl to 106-6 in reply.