Winterton, in Norfolk Alliance Division Five, had a winning draw against another former Norfolk League rivals, Great Melton A.

Kevin Percival elected to bat. Bryn Clarke and Josh Austin quickly took the score to 29 before Clarke (15) edged one behind.

The Melton bowlers began to find their line and length and the scoring rate slowed. Austin was regularly picking out fielders, but he and Geoff Roper put on a solid 49 before Roper (27) was yorked by Godbold.

Witheridge followed the next ball in the same fashion. Godbold and Harris were both restricting runs and beating the bat regularly. In 18 overs they conceded only 47 runs and this included one over where Jonny Allen took 13 runs off Godbold.

However, with Allen looking set to cause mayhem, Harris bowled him for 18 and Godbold then accounted for Jonno Stanhope-Smith.

At 102-5 the game was poised to go either way. Young Fred Playford continued his good form, busily taking on the bowling and rotating the strike.

Austin also started to pick up momentum but after a long innings was caught in the deep for 43.

Last week’s top scorer Ben Utting joined Playford and with the pressure slightly relieved following the end of Harris and Godbold’s spells, they added a brisk 39 before Utting was caught in the deep for a robust 25.

Playford (23 not out) and Percival (10 not out) saw out the remaining overs to leave Winterton on 178-7.

Ben Utting and Richard Larner kept the Melton openers quiet to such an extent that Allen tried an ambitious second to Danny Snowling’s arm and was run out for two. Harris was caught behind off Utting and Larner beat L Whiddett on the forward defensive to have him lbw for four.

At 25-3 the Melton innings was wobbling and if a couple of catches had then been taken the damage could have been worse.

However, J Whiddett and the impressive young batman Greenslade took the Melton score up to 102.

The opposition were starting to look favourites to win the game. Whiddett was starting to find the boundary regularly and moved into the 60s. However Josh Austin showed again the value of spin bowling to deceive Greenslade who was lbw for 27.

Allen drew Whiddett into the drive only for the batsman to edge behind where Playford took the catch.

Melton needed 75 in 11 overs and the pendulum had swung back towards Winterton.

Godbold was still going for the win but his partners were not able to help him keep up the rate. Alborough was run out and Utting bowled a hostile second spell at the death.

At 134-7 and needing 43 off the last five overs, Melton accepted they were not going to win but chased down the 90 per cent target they needed to secure extra bonus points ending their innings on 167-8.

Godbold was 38 not out. Utting with 2-33 in 11 overs and Austin with 2-40 were the most successful bowlers.

Winterton: B Clarke c Whiddett J b Hayward 15, J Austin c Elliott b Godbold 43, Roper b Godbold 27, M Witheridge b Godbold 0, J Allen b Harris 18, J Stanhope-Smith lbw Godbold 0, F Playford not out 23, B Utting c Godbold b Bunn 25, K Percival not out 10; extras 17. Total 178-7. Bowling: N Gristwood 7-1-29-0, R Hayward 9-1-39-1, O Harris 12-2-32-1, D Godbold 12-4-38-4, G Bunn 4-0-24-0, L Whiddett 2-0-11-0.

Great Melton: J Whiddett c Playford b Allen 66, D Allen run out 2, O Harris c Playford b Utting 0, L Whiddett lbw Larner 4, C Greenslade lbw Austin 27, D Godbold not out 38, N Gristwood c Roper b Austin 7, A Alborough run out 4, C Elliott c-b Utting 2, C Bunn not out 7; extras 10. Total 167-8. Bowling: B Utting 11-2-33-2, R Larner 9-3-19-1, D Snowling 5-2-22-0, J Allen 11-1-32-1, K Percival 3-0-14-0, J Austin 7-1-40-2.