DINTON were on the road on Saturday travelling the Hursley Park to take on their 4th XI, writes RICH CRIDGE.

Thanks to work commitments and a wedding Dinton found themselves only being able to field 10.

This issue was further compounded with Hursley’s 2nd XI game being cancelled the game was played on the larger main pitch meaning Dinton lack of a fielder was further exposed.

The visitors lost the toss and it was no surprise on another baking day that they were asked to field field.

With 10 players, lighting fast outfield and a good batting pitch life was always going to get tricky for Dinton and so it proved as although Sean Howell struck early in the 4th over having Vijatanathan caught at mid wicket by Rob Middlecote for four with the score on just nine.

This would be Dinton’s last success for 26 overs as Williams and Parvgis built a solid second wicket partnership. Dinto managed to keep their host run rate to around the five runs an over mark but with chances limited the brake thought was not forth coming.

Rob Middlecote (0-36) and Rich Pearce (0-36) both put in good shifts but it was the introduction of Nick Gale that saw wickets start to fall.

Williams was the first to go for a well made 122. From this point the completion off the innings changed as the ball now had the upper hand as Gale worked his magic the home losing six wickets for just 40 runs in the last nine overs as they finished on 209-9.

Gale finishing with 5-33, being well backed up by Howell with 2-27.

A 200 plus run chase is always tricky but Dinton were confident as their innings began after tea that they would be able to overhaul the target.

Stand in opener Pearce along with Tom Patrick made a positive start adding 34 for the first wicket.

It was a chance of bowling that did for both openers Howeth first accounting for Pearce (22) from the third ball of his first over.

10 runs were then added from the next three delivered including a no ball four. But he was back on the spot from the last ball as he had Patrick caught for 20.

This brought Simon Rawlins in to join Gale and the pair set about steadying the ship.

This they did well adding 42 for the third wicket Gale was looking good to bat through the innings dealing with any loose deliveries with his usual assuredness.

When he went caught behind for 30 with the score on 86-3 the game still could have gone both ways.

Hursley bowlers did their best to keep Dinton in check but were powerless to prevent the run rate to dip under the required 5 runs an over, although boundaries were hard to come by the batsman were able to manoeuvre the ball for singles almost at will. It was Andy Nuttall who angered the innings with support from his middle order colleagues. With 5 wickets down 57 were still needed but Nuttall stood firm holding the innings together, taking his team across the winning line with 9 balls to spare Nuttall finished on a fine 66 not out he had great support from Middlecote at the over end who finished 24 not out

This five wicket win was the clubs ninth in a row they are again on the road and on Saturday they face third placed Cadnam 3rd XI looking to make it a perfect 10 out of 10.