A HAT-TRICK from Chris Breeze capped an emphatic Winterbourne win against high flying Exbury.

The home side had gambled and decided to bowl first after winning the toss and they were rewarded as Exbury struggled to score against a pacy opening attack.

Opening bowlers Vaughn Browne and Tom Richardson turned the screw as Exbury managed just 25 runs from the first 17 overs. Browne bowled six maidens as he bowled through for just 19 runs, ten of which came from his final over. He made the first breakthrough in the seventh over when Manny Gurung held a good catch at mid off.

It was clear the Exbury batsmen were not keen on the pace of Winterbourne’s bowlers, with Richardson in particular impressing on his home debut. He was unlucky to finish wicket-less off 5 overs, conceding just 7 runs.

When Browne bowled Cornwall for a duck in his sixth over, Exbury were in trouble at 19 for 2.

O’Connor put on 26 with opener Livermore, but he was bowled by Fiddy and then the introduction of Chris Breeze would eventually change the course of the game. Despite beating the bat on numerous occasions, Winterbourne were unable to take the wickets they deserved and after 26 overs Exbury were just three men down for 56 runs.

Breeze struck in his fourth over to remove Livermore for 33, as a stunning one handed catch was taken at first slip. Newman chipped in with the wicket of his brother, G Livermore who smashed a quick 26 before another great catch was taken by Gurung. With just ten overs left and five wickets needed, maximum bowling points were looking unlikely, but Breeze struck five times in his final 12 deliveries to dismiss Exbury for 111. His final three wickets included a hat-trick as first Dyer, then White and finally Melsome were dismissed in consecutive deliveries.

Winterbourne made light work of the run chase, taking just 15 overs to reach their target without losing a wicket. Jamie Harvey finished unbeaten on 92 and Matt Windows on 14.