REDLYNCH and Hale scooped their third consecutive win to stamp their authority at the top of County Division 3 (North).

Their four-wicket win saw them comfortably despatch OT's & Romsey 3rds at East Tytherley on Saturday.

Ian Tanner called correctly asking the hosts to bat first and Ben Brown returned brilliantly straight away, bowling Mark Allen with his second ball.

Kev Hopkins also got through Tim Slade's defence to make it 6-2, before young Elliot Mitchell-Lee and Charlie Smith (35) put on 61 for the third wicket. James Taylor then pouched a good catch at mid-off as Dave Webber (2-46) and Rhys Williams accounted for the middle order.

Then Tom Emm (2-43) and Taylor (3-31) screwed things down as wickets tumbled. Mitchell-Lee was last out for a very nicely crafted 78 with four fours and two sixes as OT's & Romsey reached 187.

After the tea interval, the visitors lost Tom Bayford, trapped in front for just two, before Webber and Tanner (48) posted a 50 partnership.

Glen Willoughby dug in, picking off the bad balls and Hopkins notched a quickfire 16. Then Williams (18) batted sensibly after a shaky start only to be LBW with just 11 runs needed. Willoughby though, was in good nick having hit nine fours and two sixes in a powerful 68 not out, and struck the winning run with three balls remaining.

Meanwhile, half centuries from Ringwood’s Craig Seymour and Alex Gould completed a 90-run win over Redlynch and Hale seconds in Regional Division 2 (West).

On Sunday, in the Wilts Cricket League, Redlynch’s under 13 side swept aside a very inexperienced Steeple Langford & Shrewton side by posting a gigantic 313-4.

The under 15s visited a strong OT's & Romsey outfit, where Harry Tulk (42) and J Beard (40) helped post 138-4.

In response Redlynch & Hale ran out of overs at 87 - 4 with Andy Soutar, playing up an age group, on 42no.

The club’s other junior sides both suffered defeats.