PAULTONS were hoping for their first win of the season on an overcast day at Whitemoor against Bournemouth on Saturday.

Having lost the toss, they set about their work on a flat, pacy track very efficiently and Tony Richman took the first wicket with just 12 on the board.

Touqeer Iqbal hung on to a low catch at mid-off to put Bournemouth deep in trouble at 24 for 2 but no. 4 batsman Harris set his stall out to attack, hitting 41 in six overs with a plethora of fours and sixes. Bournemouth started to look as if they were on for an impressive total - until Iqbal removed the dangerman.

The game was turning in Paultons' favour as the run rate slowed over by over thanks to impressive spells by Andy Denney and Pete Lamb. The latter took four wickets in five overs to flatten the mood in the visitors' dressing room.

A quick run out engineered by debutant Craig Perry on debut consigned Bournemouth to a low total, although the tail did manage to add a good forty runs to their score.

Colin James removed the last man with a fine catch off Richman to ensure Paultons ended up with maximum bowling points, and the hosts went in to tea the happier of the two sides.

In reply Paultons started off well, James and skipper John Robinson looking good and punishing anything wayward. James was the first to go, popping one back to the bowler, and was closely followed by his opening partner, who was caught at gully. All of a sudden Bournemouth started to believe that they could dismiss a few more to make it interesting, and nerves hit the Paultons camp.

When Andy Darnton was adjudged lbw, the home side knew that reaching the target would be more of a battle than it should have been. Andy Collins and Iqbal both flashed at wide deliveries in the same over, being caught behind and playing on respectively, and at 68 for 5 the 171 target seemed miles away.

Richman and O'Brien steadied the ship and pushed Paultons past 100. With the required run rate now just 2.5 an over, Paultons were confident of victory providing they could occupy the crease for long enough.

However, when Richman holed out to deep cover the game turned dramatically in the visitors' favour. O'Brien quickly followed, and the Paultons tail put up little resistance, slumping to a disappointing 114 all out.

This was a game where a little more application with the bat would have seen Paultons run out easy winners. But instead they gifted Bournemouth a victory they really didn't have to battle for.

Paultons' bowling and fielding was tidy, but the mental approach to chasing down runs needs to be addressed as soon as possible if Paultons are to start winning.