WINTERBOURNE steered into fourth in Regional West One after a solid seven wicket win over struggling Mudeford seconds.

After being asked to field first, Joe Cunningham bowled a great opening spell, taking one for 15 in seven overs.

Nick Fiddy bowled his ten overs straight, taking one for 35 but Simon Dunford was batting well for the visitors and only two wickets were taken in the first 21 overs.

Three unnecessary run outs brought Winterbourne back into contention, but with ten overs to go, Mudeford were in a position to give themselves something to bowl at with the score 116-5.

It was left to spinners Matt Newman and Ed Dadd to quickly run through the tail.

When Dadd bowled Dunford with a beauty around his legs for 37, and then followed up with an LBW the very next ball, Mudeford were suddenly in a spot of bother.

And another run out (the fourth of the innings) and two wickets in three balls for Matt Newman saw Mudeford lose their last five wickets for just ten runs inside four overs. The last four wickets all fell without a run being scored.

In reply, Winterbourne got off to a steady start, scoring unusually slowly against a very good opening bowling attack. With plenty of pace and bounce from the pitch, the openers struggled to pierce the infield and, after 11 overs, the score was 28 without loss.

Two overs after the first drinks break, Jamie Harvey played a rash square cut and was caught at point for 17. The very next over Craig Johnson was caught and bowled for zilch and the following over Matt Windows was bowled for a well fought 39.

At 59-3 off 22 overs the match was in the balance, but a brilliant partnership between Rob Mann and Newman saw Winterbourne reach their target with 10 overs to spare to secure a victory that kept the pressure on the leading pack – CBBEA, Farley and undefeated leaders Winton.