DINTON seconds continued their winning start to the season as they beat Laverstock and Ford seconds by 100 runs, leaving the side top of the table with four wins out of four.

Heavy rain overnight had left the pitch damp, Lavestock’s captain was slightly surprised when upon winning the toss Tom Patrick elected to bat first.

Dinton’s innings got off to a bad start, losing Toby Allen in only the second over. However, this brought Nick Gale to the crease, and he and Patrick dug in adding 92 for the second wicket until Patrick departed, bowled by Paul Williamson for 44.

With the pitch rapidly drying out Gale kept the scoreboard ticking, aided by Dave Roberts looking as fluent as ever as the pair put together another large partnership of 93, Gale passing 50 in the process. It took a good catch to remove Roberts for 21 which brought the in form Andy Nuttal to the crease for the last five overs, and he wasted no time finding the boundary with ease dispatching the ball to all parts of the ground. Dinton’s innings ended with the score on 258 for 3 with Gale 111 not out and Nuttal 49 not out.

In reply Laverstock’s opening batsmen came out with intent and initially had success, their agricultural style of batting finding the leg side boundary regularly off the bowling of Andy Coulson. Toby Allen, who was bowling for the first time this season, kept things tight at the other end with figures of 6-3-0-6 and was unlucky not to take a wicket.

It was Gale who made the breakthrough by dismissing Sam Miller for 22 in his first over, he then went on to take the next four wickets to fall aided by some excellent catching from Arran Musselwhite and Darren Mills. Gale capped off a supreme day with 5-19 from his ten overs.

Tom Kilgour (10-0-36) bowled well, maintaining a line outside off stump which the Laverstock batsmen were unable to pull into the leg side and thus they fell well below the required run rate.

It was Coulson (3-60) and Joe Grennell (2-19) that closed the match out for Dinton as the Laverstock innings ended on 150 all out in the 39th over. It was an excellent effort from all 11 players with everyone contributing to the win as in every game so far this season.

Taking the maximum 24 points from the game and remaining top of the league, Dinton 2nds head to Redlynch and Hale thirds next week full of confidence and will be looking to continue their good form against the Redlynch and Hale who are currently ninth in the table having played three games. The firsts are playing at home against South Newton.