Winterton impress

AN impressive team performance brought a comprehensive win for Winterton over Topcroft A, who had identical playing records.

Kevin Percival, resuming the captain's role, won the toss and despite the overcast conditions decided to make first use of what looked a good wicket.

Although Bryn Clarke and Wes Noble-Parker (12) got off to a five-an-over start, Noble-Parker's mishit drive was caught off fast bowler Todd.

Geoff Roper joined Clarke and edged his first ball through the slips for four, while Clarke was missed behind the wicket shortly afterwards.

Errors were to cost Topcroft dear, as the pair added 86 in 20 overs, taking Winterton to 110-1.

Comfortably breaking 200 looked achievable with Roper hitting 53, including 11 fours, but the hard working Rostron caused him to edge behind for Twyman to hold.

The same duo accounted for Clarke (37) in the next over, the ball catching the batsman's glove, and Boylan was unfortunate to be bowled first ball.

At 120-4 Martin Witheridge and Josh Austin set about consolidating the innings and still managed to keep Winterton on target.

The pair batted sensibly and Austin, looking more comfortable at number six as the weeks go on, played another good innings.

Witheridge was eventually caught at deep mid on for 34, with Austin also caught for another solid 25.

Ben Utting (22no) and Kevin Percival (11) set about scampering suicidal singles, interspersed with the odd big boundary, in an entertaining seventh wicket partnership of 35 until Percival was run out off the last ball.

Winterton secured the extra batting point but the score of 205-7 seemed below their expectations.

Percival challenged his team to bowl a number of maidens to secure victory and the opening duo of Utting and Richard Larner, backed by some sharp fielding, strangled Topcroft's reply from the start.

Utting accounted for Rostron early on and although Vincent (18) hit two sixes, it seemed only a matter of time before he was likely to be caught, and he duly edged Utting to Noble-Parker, diving to his right.

The runs dried up with Larner and Utting at one stage bowling four maidens in succession.

Mattocks (18) flourished briefly with some straight drives but was caught by a diving Tom Roper off Larner.

Utting and Larner bowled 24 overs unchanged and only conceded 60 runs, taking six wickets. Utting returned figures of 3-12 from 12, with Larner 3-44.

Topcroft gave up the chase and looked to secure batting points. The two Toms - Whichelow and Roper - took up bowling duties and carried on the previous good work, collecting the last four wickets in eight overs.

Boylan took two catches, Noble-Parker a stumping and a catch, with Larner getting down to a low chance.

Roper ended 3-26 and a last wicket stand by Baldwin (26no) and Woodcock (18) dragged Topcroft's score from 64-9 to a more respectable 114 , but Winterton's win was assured.

It was the first time this season the number of extras conceded was in single figures, and this was probably Winterton's best performance of the season to date.

Winterton A travelled to Hales A, with the latter winning the toss and they surprised the visitors by electing to bat under cloudy skies.

Sam Drake continued his good form, taking two early wickets. Hales dug in with skipper Loines making 77 and Henderson 33, but Winterton stuck to their task with Hambrook taking three wickets, Holsworth one and Phil Drake four, to bowl Hales out for a competitive 160.

But only Crawley (29), Ewing (12) and Holsworth (22) reached double figures as Winterton slumped to 89 all out for the third week in a row.

The impressive Premanchandra took three wickets and McLean four.

Fisherman's Return man

of the match: P Drake for a

good 4-26.