IN somewhat warmer conditions than when they last met Winterton turned in another impressive performance to record a six-wicket win over Kirkley Sports to keep their Norfolk League title hopes on track.

IN somewhat warmer conditions than when they last met Winterton turned in another impressive performance to record a six-wicket win over Kirkley Sports to keep their Norfolk League title hopes on track.

Kirkley surprisingly opted to make first use of a wicket which did not look as if it might be easy to bat on.

This was confirmed as the opening bowlers Richard Larner and Kevin Percival exerted a stranglehold on the Kirkley openers Halstein and Parker.

Both batsmen were unable to score with any fluency, and only 20 runs were conceded off the bowlers in 17 overs. Larner conceded just eight runs in 10 overs.

Neither bowler could claim a wicket, despite regularly beating the bat and having chances just drop out of the reach of fielders.

Percival changed the bowlers and the seam of Tom Roper came on at one end and the left-arm spin of Danny Snowling at the other. The change provided almost immediate results.

Trying to force the pace against Snowling, Parkin (17) went for an expansive drive but edged the ball to Geoff Roper at slip.

Halstein and Moore added 21 at a quicker pace before Moore fell in exactly the same way as Parker.

Tom Roper then began to find his bowling form of last season and claimed two wickets in two balls.

Halstein, after a long vigil, was well caught by Sam Drake for 24, and the dangerous Tuttle was lbw for four.

Holmes holed out to Witheridge a few balls later to leave Kirkley rocking at 63-5.

Snowling had Cross caught at gulley by Clarke for two. Freeman was bowled soon afterwards to give Roper the last of his four wickets for 31 runs.

Snowling continued to bowl an impressive controlled spell and worked his way through the rest of the order taking the last three wickets to fall (bowled, caught and lbw) with the later batsmen not knowing how to play the turning ball. Kirkley were all out for 90 and Snowling had his best-ever haul for Winterton of 6-24.

The Winterton reply got off to a quick start with Clarke and Austin taking 16 off the first two overs.

The Kirkley bowlers then began to find their range and Holmes brought one back into Austin to bowl him for 11 with the score on 18.

Clarke and Geoff Roper almost doubled the score before Clarke drove at another Holmes delivery, but only found the edge to be well held at slip, also for 11.

Martin Witheridge, despite not having batted for a few weeks, announced his arrival with a classic drive for four. He dominated the remainder of the innings.

A slight wobble occurred when Geoff Roper was lbw for 10 and Wes Noble-Parker was also bowled by the persevering Holmes for two.

Jonno Stanhope-Smith, on his debut, joined Witheridge and looked calmness personified as the pair picked off the remaining 36 runs for victory. Witheridge dominated the partnership with his trademark drives but Stanhope-Smith also worked the ball around well to take Winterton quickly to their target.

Winterton need seven points from their final game against a tough Shipdham to secure the league title.

Kirkley Sports: J Halstein c Drake b Roper T 24, V Parker c Roper G b Snowling 17, R Moore c Roper G b Snowling 10, G Tuttle lbw Roper T 4, K Freeman b Roper T 8, J Holmes c Witheridge b Roper T 0, F Cross c Clarke b Snowling 2, S McAlone not out 2, N Muirhead b Snowling 0, D Read c Austin b Snowling 4, L Caplin b Snowling 0; extras 19. Total 90. Bowling: R Larner 10-7-8-0, K Percival 7-2-12-0, T Roper 12-3-31-4, D Snowling 11-4-24-6, S Drake 1-0-4-0.

Winterton: B Clarke c Moore b Holmes 11, J Austin b Holmes 11, G Roper lbw Muirhead 10, M Witheridge not out 36, W Noble-Parker b Holmes 2, J Stanhope-Smith not out 10; extras 11. Total 91-4. Bowling: J Holmes 9-1-37-3, L Caplin 1-0-10-0, F Cross 5-1-14-0, N Muirhead 3-1-16-1, G Tuttle 0.3-0-4-0.