WINTERBOURNE started off their 2014 Regional Division 1 League campaign in perfect style with a comfortable nine-wicket victory against St Cross V.

After losing the toss, Winterbourne were asked to field and had use of the only new ball.

Ryan Hughes took advantage of his fielding position and was instantly on the money making life hard for the two opening batsmen with his vicious in-swing. He had the perfect opening partner at the other end in Nick Lawrence, who never gave anything away as St Cross struggled to 11 without loss after seven overs.

Hughes made the first breakthrough, bowling Bussey for two, and followed this up with two more wickets in his next over as St Cross slumped to 11-3 off ten.

After waiting nine overs for his first wicket, Lawrence took two in two balls to leave the visitors in all sorts of trouble at 26-5 off 17. Both bowlers finished their ten over spells with an excellent economy of under two per over.

Chasing such a low score meant Winterbourne couldn't lose a wicket if they were to obtain maximum points, but Matt Windows nibbled at a good ball from Player in the fifth over and was caught behind for one.

Jamie Harvey and Matt Shellum saw off some good bowling from the young St Cross side and took Winterbourne past the winning line in the 20th over.