WINTERBOURNE were left ruing three crucial dropped catches as an outstanding all round display from Kiwi Hamish McCarthy saw Bentworth run out comfortable winners by 71 runs in Regional Division One (North).

After winning the toss, Bentworth elected to bat and McCarthy immediately took charge scoring 71 out of the first 85 runs. Winterbourne took the first wicket of Andrew Yorke for 12 runs in the 20th over, but by this time McCarthy had already been dropped twice.

He made the hosts pay as he completed a ton in the 27th over but soon departed two overs later for 111 to leave Bentworth on 145-2.

Ryan Hughes had earlier finished a tidy spell of ten overs 1 for 31 and the spinners of Matt Newman and Ed Dadd now started to make scoring reasonably difficult.

Joe Cunningham picked up a wicket in his first over and bowled an excellent spell of four overs 2 for 21 at the death. Peter Doust finished unbeaten on 45 as Bentworth closed one short of maximum batting points on 199 for 6.

In reply, the two opening bowlers of Hill and Thomas gave nothing away as the score limped along at around two an over. After 16 overs Matt Windows fell for 15 and Matt Shellum quickly departed for a duck in the following six balls.

Three wickets fell in three overs as Harvey was then bowled for 15 and Winterbourne were in serious trouble at 40 for 3 off 18.

Dadd continued his recent good run with the bat and together with Newman, the pair looked to push on and regain the upper hand.

But with McCarthy now into the attack, runs continued to be difficult to come by and he soon bowled Newman for seven.

A disastrous collapse then followed as Arthur Webb was LBW for one and then Mike Fiddy and Paul Hemming were both bowled first ball to give Andrew Cole a hat-trick.

Hughes joined Dadd and the pair put on some useful late runs to help Winterbourne to four batting points. Hughes eventually went for 17 and Dadd was the last man out in the 40th over for an excellent 51.

McCarthy rounded off a good day with two for 23 from eight overs.