STRATFORD skipper Dexter Purser marked his 100th first team appearance for the club with a man of the match display to help end their losing run.
Purser top-scored with 70 and then snapped up two wickets as the Panthers defeated hosts Solihull Municipal by 31 runs in a rain-affected contest.
It was Stratford’s first win since the end of June and leaves them in fifth place in the Warwickshire League Premier Division table but they will look to step up their push for the top three on Saturday when they entertain basement side Standard at Swans Nest Lane.
Last weekend, Purser and Luke Nardone provided the perfect foundation for a victory charge with an opening stand of 130 after they were put into bat by Municipal.
Purser smacked six fours and one six in his 81-ball 70 before he fell and Nardone had also kept up the run-rate with a 56-ball 53 before he was the second wicket to fall one run later.
Archie Walker whacked 15 off six balls as Stratford’s reduced 25-over innings ended on 149-3.
Walker then dismissed Municipal opener Henri Lewis early on but James Roslyn (24) and Mike Rowley (20) rallied the hosts.
However, after they departed, wickets fell regularly.
James Urquhart finished with 3-20 and there were two wickets apiece as Gareth Langman (2-12), Ben Pigott (2-21) and Purser (2-22) kept up the pressure and Solihull were dismissed for 118 in the 23rd over.
Stratford 2nds’ home game against Olton & West Warwickshire in Division Four was abandoned without a ball being bowled.
They remain four points clear of the drop zone as they prepare to visit Leamington Khalsa on Saturday.
Stratford Bards fell short to lose by 22 runs to hosts Fladbury in their Cotswold Hills League Division Four fixture, despite a half-century for Nishi Kant.
Matt Hallett was the pick of the bowlers for the Bards, taking 4-41 after they put Fladbury into bat.
Chris Lloyd-Smith led the home side with 56 as they ended on 165-7 off their 40 overs. Jagadeesh Gowda took 2-29.
Opener Martin Beese hit 41 as the Bards replied and Kant added 54 but none of their team-mates could stick around too long.
Instead, Ryan Dixon ripped through with 4-22 as Stratford were all out for 143 in the 36th over.
The Bards meet Leek Wootton 2nds on Saturday at Alscot Park.
Stratford Panthers’ semi-final in the inaugural Warwickshire Smash was washed out.
Having had opponents Moseley Ashfield 19-3 from eight overs at Bedworth, the downpours meant no further play was possible. A new date had yet to be arranged at the time of going to press.
