The margin of victory was quite unexpected, coming at the end of a week when captain Chris Harden had to work really hard to field a full eleven, giving season debuts to Mike Douglas and Matt Harden.
Played in the deluxe surroundings of Wokingham cricket club, Pinkneys found themselves in the field and despite lively opening spells from Ant Fuller and Purchese were unable to break into the Lower Earley order. Opener O'Grady in particular led a charmed life, setting the tone for the innings by showing an uncanny knack for mishitting the ball into the air but out of the reach of a fielder.
He departed following the introduction of Ben Snapes into the attack, who partnered by the metronomic consistency of Will Heyes, kept the run rate down despite the loss of just one wicket.
Andy Wilcox continued the good work and having talked himself up in the august surroundings of Lords on Friday, Andy Ryan was given the opportunity to impress with the ball, an experiment which worked until a fatal third over became one too many.
At this point, Lower Earley looked set for a big total, scoring almost at a run a ball with nine wickets in hand, and opener Steve Maynard well set following a diligent innings.
Wilcox then made the breakthrough as finally the ball went to hand, Khan departing for 40. Maynard soon completed a well deserved ton but the return of Snapes junior to the attack saw him stumped by his brother Tim, and when Snapes struck again a few balls later the momentum was with Pinkneys.
The Green managed to choke the supply of runs in the latter overs, Heyes taking three wickets, the one Lower Eearley highlight being a three ball cameo from tail ender Arif, who having edged his first ball off Heyes for four over deep midwicket, promptly dispatched the next one for six over square leg into a neighbouring tennis court.
The Lower Earley innings closed on double nelson, an achievable target on an innocuous wicket ringed with a fast outfield.
Tim Snapes made it clear that he believed a win was possible with a whirlwind 76 first up. Hitting opening paceman Arif out of the attack then reaching his half century with only eleven overs on the board. The hundred partnership was reached with drinks still a long way off and the pattern that Snapes and his opening partner Purchese set in the first ten overs proved to be the template for victory. Snapes key to success was his clean hitting and eagerness to rotate the strike, judiciously picking the fielders to take on for a quick single and ensuring where possible ones became twos and twos became threes.
Halfway to victory Snapes departed on 75 leaving Purchese to manfully take on the role of senior batsman and continue the chase with Ryan. With time now on the Green's side Purchese skilfully anchored the innings to guide his team to victory, riding his luck when he was dropped at square leg early on, and intelligently pacing the run chase.
The swing of left armer Ramarat provided the biggest Lower Earley challenge with the ball, whilst Ryan was a mite fortunate to scrape home when O'Neill hit the stumps with a direct hit from midwicket. The biggest problem though was of the Green's own making as their failure to start their innings until 5.45 pm meant the light was poor for the last 20 overs as shown by the luminescence of the scoreboard.
This proved to be of little hindrance to the batsman however as they continued to knock off the four runs per over now required until appropriately enough Purchese hit the winning run with a couple of overs left, his partner Ryan also receiving the plaudits of his teammates for a decent supporting knock of 43 not out.