A FINE bowling spell from Manny Gurung steered Winterbourne to a 43-run victory over Fawley seconds in County Division 4 West.

When 'Bourne were on the ropes after a string of dropped catches, Gurung came up with the goods, claiming two wickets in three balls.

The hosts made a slow start with the bat, and soon had to leave the field due to a brief shower.

After losing 22 minutes, Winterbourne lost their first wicket when Jamie Harvey ran himself out for nine.

Matt Windows followed a few overs later and, when Manny Gurung joined Craig Johnson, runs continued to be hard to come by with some excellent tight bowling from the opening Fawley bowlers.

Gurung was unlucky to be out for six when he played onto his stumps and was on his way back to the pavilion with Winterbourne now 46-3.

Malcolm Griffiths made his way quickly to 13 before being caught - Winterbourne now 71-4 from 22 overs.

Ed Dadd was now with Johnson, who passed his half century for the third time this season. Johnson and Dadd put on a crucial 49 runs for the fifth wicket taking the score to 120 before Dadd was caught for 24. Johnson eventually fell for 77 in the 37th over.

Matt Newman (12) and Chris Breeze (17*) were once again reunited at the death to help push the score up to a respectable 173 from 45 overs.

Due to the rain interval, Fawley's revised target was 146 from 38 overs.

Nick Lawrence and Chris Breeze were as miserly as ever at the start of the innings, making runs very hard to come by for the Fawley openers.

Lawrence took the first wicket of the innings as Gurung held on to a good catch at cover to help dismiss Church for three. Breeze struck an over later, bowling Painter with a jaffer for nine, and following it up with a similar ball in the 14th over, bowling Ward for two. Lawrence finished his spell with another wicket and Fawley were 52-4, needing 95 to win from 18 overs.

But just as Winterbourne were on top, they started to give the game away with a series of dreadful dropped catches. Seven went down in total and it looked like Fawley were going to make Winterbourne pay as Cole passed his half century and was steering Fawley to victory. When Dadd bowled Doe for 14, Fawley were still hot favourites, now needing just 38 runs from 10 overs.

Ian Hattersley eventually took a great high catch at long off to give Dadd the much needed wicket of Cole for 53.

Ryan Hughes bowled Sturgess for 11, but it was Gurung who helped to win the match for Winterbourne with his quickfire wickets.