CAPTAIN Greg Parsons insists Broadstone can still gatecrash the title race after recording their first win of the season against Poole Town.

Parsons (3-22) helped set the tone with Steve Trembath (3-37) as Poole were dismissed for 176, despite an opening stand of 71 between Badrul Alam (45) and Brewster Surridge (29).

Lewis Marais (27) also scored well for the visitors but Broadstone made light work of their target with John Burns (60) and Ian Griffiths (24) producing a strong fourth-wicket partnership as the hosts cruised to a five-wicket success.

And Parsons, whose charges slipped to defeat against Parley and Wimborne & Colehill in their opening two fixtures, believes the result can put his side’s championship quest back on track following early setbacks to their fellow challengers.

Broadstone’s skipper told the Daily Echo: “It is always our target to win the league and that will stay the same until it becomes impossible to do so. We’ll keep aiming for that top spot. We are always confident and we just have to keep winning games.

“We’re really happy to get that first win. There have been some good bits and some poor bits of cricket but all three aspects of our game came together against Poole. The performance was much more in line with what we were doing last year and there was a real buzz about the team, which is pleasing because that can be lost when you lose a couple of games. Player availability has not been great but there is not a lot you can do about that and we will get even stronger as the players come back.

“I see Parley and Wimborne (& Colehill) as our main rivals so it was not ideal to lose to them both in the opening matches. Parley probably looked the stronger of the two sides and played better than Wimborne.”