A FINE performance from Mehboob Elahi helped Normandy to a final over victory against Purley at the Ridge.

Due to the rain the match was reduced to 23 overs a side.

Normandy won the toss and decided to bowl. John Fry partnered Fuaad Syed and Purley got off to a flyer with Fry hitting 15 off Ryan Powell's opening over of the game.

Syed though didn't seem his natural fluent self and it was no surprise when he drove Matt Carter to Michael Scott at point.

Kapilan Balusubramaniam came in at three but was dismissed for just one as he top-edged a short delivery off Paul King at the other end.

Ali Jaffery was put up the order as Purley looked to use his attacking endeavour to good effect and he and Fry put on over 50 for the third wicket.

Elahi helped curb the flow of runs with his left arm spin and Malinda eventually had Fry caught on the boundary for a well-played 39.

Fayyaz Hashmat hit his second ball for four but was then caught and bowled by Elahi attempting to repeat the stroke.

Keith Medlycott and Jaffery pushed the score along before Jaffery was dismissed for 47.

A final surge, thanks largely to Medlycott's clever batting, saw Purley finish on a respectable 145-8.

The total looked tough to chase and this was emphasised by the fantastic opening spell by Saleem and Hashmat who bowled with great pace and skill as Normandy's Elahi and James Clutterbuck struggled to get going.

Elahi attempted to take the attack to Saleem but top-edged the ball towards point, Josh Baker on for injured Fry, failed to take the catch. This missed opportunity would turn out to be a crucial blow. Elahi soon began to find his groove and smashed Jaffery for three successive fours to regain the momentum. Clutterbuck was playing sensibly at the other end, allowing his partner to play in his swashbuckling way.

Medlycott sensed that spin would perhaps break the partnership, so brought himself on at one end and Andy Macdonald at the other. Elahi had other ideas though and hit Medlycott for two sixes.

With the score now at 77, Elahi had reached his 50 and Normandy were cruising to victory.

Macdonald trapped Elahi plumb in front as he went for another extravagant sweep shot but the damage had been done. Number three James Regan was also sent back to the pavilion for 15 by Simon Sweeney but Clutterback finished with an unbeaten half century and guided his side home with few alarms.

Elahi's innings proved decisive. Purley failed to take the initiative when the opportunity arose and only have themselves to blame as they suffered their fourth defeat in as many games.