NATIONWIDE finally got their season up and running with a narrow 11-run victory at Purton in Wilts One on Saturday, with captain Joe Perkins leading by example.

Perkins, pictured, was part of a stubborn resistance from the visitors’ lower middle order, and then returned impressive figures of 6-48 from 11 overs with the ball as Nationwide sneaked past their hosts to record their first win of the campaign.

On a track which traditionally favours the batsmen, Nationwide stumbled to 40-4, with both Mark Flay and Nick Clarke going cheaply.

However, Chris Cousens studiously negotiated 40 from number five, and the lower order played a significant role, as the final five wickets put on 121.

“I am always happy to win or lose the toss at Purton because it should be every batsman's dream to get the chance to have some valuable time at the wicket there, and I was surprised when the Purton skipper asked us to bat.” said Perkins.

“I was hopeful we would set about posting a decent total, but some indifferent shots landed us in real trouble.”

“Our last five batsmen scored priceless runs, which set us up with a defendable score as we know how good our bowlers are at bowling in the pressure of a run chase.”

The lower-order revival set Purton 205 to win, and after 57 from Elliot Hill put the home side in command at 117-4, Perkins was staring a third consecutive loss straight down the barrel.

But the skipper took it upon himself to haul his team back into the contest, and his line and length frustrated the Purton batsmen into false and rash shots as he cleaned up the tail.

“I must admit whilst their number seven was at the crease, Purton were winning the game, but the balance tipped our way,” said Perkins.

“We turned the game on its head, using our strong points and bowling a good line and length at varying pace to frustrate batsman.

“We held our catches, brilliantly took two stumpings and held our nerve in a pressure-cooker finish. It was an absolute brilliant win, and the whole team contributed.”

The victory was somewhat tainted for Perkins by a two-point penalty for a slow over rate, a deduction he felt was a little unjust.

“Common sense and leniency should have prevailed as the Purton outfield is huge,” he said.

“Numerous twos were being run per over, which at other grounds could well have at least been boundaries.”

Meanwhile, in an early-season meeting between two of the top-runners in Wilts One, Lechlade overwhelmed Winsley by 50 runs to claim top spot in the division.

Batting first, Lechlade muscled their way to 223, with the innings anchored by 57 from Ross Jeffels and 47 from Brandon Handley as Josh Rurawhe continued his fine form with the ball for Winsley by taking four top order wickets.

After the interval, Lechlade claimed an important early scalp with Winsley skipper Charlie Holton pushing his fifth ball from George Brooksbank into the hands of Paul Rowley.

Andrew Swinburne, Mark and Giles Williams and Kevin Hendy all got starts for the hosts, but none made it beyond 25 as Lechlade rattled through the Winsley line-up.

The home side limped to 173, with extras top-scoring with 29, before Handley claimed Simon Orchard lbw to complete an emphatic win for the new league leaders.