WINTERBOURNE got their promotion hopes back on course in Regional Division One after coming away dominant winners over third-placed Kingsclere with a 94-run victory.

Kingsclere chose to field first in bowler friendly conditions and the opening bowlers of Hanney and Enters made life difficult for the Winterbourne batsmen. Very little was given away, but Ed Dadd and Jamie Harvey played with patience, maintaining a steady run rate of roughly three runs an over. Harvey was eventually caught behind for 29 in the 19th over and Matt Windows and Dadd (27) followed shortly afterwards to leave Winterbourne three down for 80 runs.

Richard Johnson and Chris Warde looked like a formidable partnership, but Warde picked out the fielder at deep point to depart for just four runs - and at 104 for 4 off 30 overs the game was finely balanced.

Matt Newman joined Johnson and the pair quickly put on 44 runs before Johnson was bowled for a fine 50. Newman and Shellum continued to press forward, taking the score to 175 before Shellum was caught in the 40th over for 21.

For the first time since their rebirth, the Judd name returned to the Winterbourne scorecard as Jim Judd chipped in with some late innings hitting to help Winterbourne to a competitive total of 197 at the end of their 42 overs. Newman finished with 39 not out.

Nick Lawrence gave Winterbourne a great start as he removed Hardy for a duck with his second ball of the innings, and went on to bowl five maidens in a match winning spell of 2 for 12 from 9 overs. Young Harry Hart accounted for Enters in the eighth over as Winterbourne appeared to be well on top.

Hanney and Hirst had other ideas though, and following a brief rain delay, the pair put on 29 runs to give Winterbourne something to worry about. Newman then brought himself on to bowl and bamboozled Gee with his 11th ball as he was stumped by Windows for 9.

Warde bowled with good pace from the other end and was unlucky not to pick up a wicket as he conceded just eight runs from his five over spell.

Following Newman's second wicket, Kingsclere collapsed as Dadd took two wickets in his first over. Joe Cunningham chipped in with a wicket the following over, and Dadd returned to take the final wicket and finish with figures of 3 wickets for 1 run off 8 balls.

Winterbourne have moved into fifth position.