WINTERBOURNE came within a whisker of inflicting a first defeat on undefeated leaders Winton in County Division 4 West.

The enthralling contest went down to the final ball in which Chris Breeze needed a four but was thwarted by a diving stop as the hosts lost by a single run.

After electing to bowl first, all-rounder Breeze struck in his third over to dismiss Winton's captain John Duke for 15, but Vaughn Browne couldn't find a breakthrough at the other end.

Shahin Alam and Sam Green put on 44 runs before an overdue bowling change finally made the difference as Nick Lawrence had Green caught by Warde for 28. Lawrence bowled an excellent spell, and struck in identical fashion three overs later as Matt Cleere was caught by Warde for 2. The very next over Lawrence bowled opening batsman Shahin Alam for 35 and, when Ed Dadd had Ben Thompson caught for duck, Winton were 94 for 5 after 25 overs and in serious trouble.

Harry Seal and Alex Proaline put on some useful runs but both fell in quick succession as Lawrence picked up his fourth, bowling Proaline with a slower ball for 15 and then Manny Gurung bowled Seal for 30 to put Winton 134 for 7. Lawrence finished his 10-over spell with four for 38.

Breeze returned to bowl out his 10 overs and accounted for Charlie May for 18, but from then on Winton piled on the runs finishing on 226 for 8 with Sam Wynn unbeaten on an excellent 62.

In reply, Winterbourne made a storming start, bringing up 50 in the seventh over as Craig Johnson and Jamie Harvey took advantage of an excellent batting surface.

As soon as pace was taken off the ball though, the run rate slowed as Winton brought on their spinners and conceded just nine runs from their first six overs. Craig Johnson tried to be positive but was caught off Charlie May for 35 driving at one which wasn't quite there.

Manny Gurung joined Harvey and the pair saw out the leg spin of Charlie May who finished with 1 for 32 from his 10 overs.

A partnership of 119 took the score up to 183 for 1 in the 37th over before Harvey was bowled by Wynn for 74.

In the 40th over, there was a sign of things to come as Sabin Rana was run out for 5 and then Gurung drove down the ground and was caught for 71.

Warde hit a huge six into the pavilion and along with Browne swung the game back into Winterbourne's favour with 13 runs needed off 17 balls. Browne was caught behind for 7 and Warde fell in identical fashion to Gurung two balls later.

And with six runs needed off the final over, Nick Lawrence and Dadd could only muster singles and it was left to Breeze to hit a four for a win.

And he had thought he had secured a famous victory when firing the ball towards the boundary before a majestic stop denied him and his teammates, whose celebrations were cut short.