SKIPPER Dexter Purser and wicketkeeper Dan Hackett both top-scored as Stratford suffered a frustrating start to the new Warwickshire League Premier Division season.
Opener Purser and No 7 batsman Hackett both hit 33 but only two other players reached double figures as they lost by six wickets at Attock.
Stratford will hope to bounce back when they entertain Handsworth at Swans Nest Lane on Saturday in the first home match of 2019.
The Panthers won the toss and opted to bat at Attock but they lost two quick wickets with only 21 runs on the board. A mini-revival from Purser and Finlay Hatch (20) pushed the score to 63 but wickets fell at regular intervals after that.
Purser hit six fours in his 52-ball innings and Hackett had five boundaries in his 57-ball knock but he was last out in the 41st over as Stratford were dismissed for 141. Mohammed Nadeem took 3-44.
Attock’s first wicket fell with the score on 30 but any hopes Stratford had of cranking up the pressure faded as opener Arsalaan Mahmood set about their bowling.
His match-winning innings of 75 came off 54 balls, smacking 12 fours and three sixes, in a total of 85 before Tom Grundy (2-37) snapped up his wicket.
Usama Khan, however, steered the hosts home in the 34th over with a steady 35 off 59 balls.
