Winterton continued their good start by beating hosts Shipdham by four wickets in Norfolk League Division Two.On a very hot day Shipdham had no hesitation in opting for first use of what looked to be a batting wicket.

Winterton continued their good start by beating hosts Shipdham by four wickets in Norfolk League Division Two.

On a very hot day Shipdham had no hesitation in opting for first use of what looked to be a batting wicket.

Winterton applied themselves well in the field and honours were fairly even between bat and ball with Ben Utting and Mark Hambrook keeping the openers Stagles and Duffield in check.

The pair bowled unchanged for 14 overs and restricted the score to 42 but could not achieve a breakthrough.

Tom Roper and Kevin Percival came into the attack and the pattern was similar. The score moved up to 72 in the 22nd over when Tom Roper drew Duffield into a lofted drive and he holed out to mid-off Utting.

Percival, in the middle of a tight spell, took two more quick wickets. Tom Whichelow, who had replaced Roper, continued his good form of the previous week to bowl Cox. Shipdham were 113-4 with 10 overs remaining.

It looked as if Winterton might have a relatively low score to chase, but then Ellis changed the complexion of the game when he launched a barrage of big hitting.

In the next 10 overs 74 runs

were added, of which Ellis' partners added 16.

On the large ground he hit five sixes and six fours to take his side up to a challenging 187-8. Ellis remained unbeaten on 79.

Percival, Utting and Whichelow each took two wickets and particularly pleasing was the commitment in the field which never flagged.

Bryn Clarke and Wes Noble-Parker again opened the innings and scored steadily in an opening stand of 39 in 14 overs until Noble-Parker tried one of his favourite shots through mid-on but picked out Dalton to be caught

for 20.

This brought Geoff Roper to the wicket and he and Clarke continued the momentum of the innings.

Clarke was striking the ball cleanly and Roper tried to give him the strike, but he also struck boundaries at the right time.

Clarke who was batting fluently, moved to a well deserved 50 containing eight boundaries.

The experienced duo carried the score onto 133 until Clarke miscued a ball from the returning Hunt to be caught at square-leg for 68.

Martin Witheridge was yorked a few balls later but Roper and Ben Utting refused to get bogged down and kept the required scoring rate well within limits.

However, a slight wobble saw three wickets fall for 10 runs. Roper was bowled for a well-made 35, Utting for 19 and Austin was caught in the deep for four.

Skipper Percival (21 not out) however looked calmness personified and with solid support from debutant Keith Drewitt (1 not out) he carried his side to victory with seven balls remaining to secure 24 points.