DINTON travelled to Appleford School on Saturday to take on Shrewton 3rd XI. With Shrewton Flower show taking place over the road the game was serenaded by a brass band throughout which gave the match a nice musical accompaniment.

Dinton won the toss and batted 1st, 19 runs were smashed off the first over and although the run rate dropped for the rest of the innings not by much.

The hosts were unable to curtail Dinton’s openers as they raced to 50 in just the 6th over. Ben Coombes was the more dominant partner with Tom Patrick happy to play second fiddle, but if he got a loose ball he wasn't afraid to dispatch it to the boundary. Coombes brought his own 50 up from just 17 scoring shots.

Shrewton course was not helped when opening bowler Ian Curry limbed out of the attack just as he was starting to find his rhythm.

Joe Wood gave Shrewton an element of control, and it was he who took the 1st and as it transpired the only wicket of the innings. Patrick being bowled for 49.

Andy O'Neill playing only his second league game of the season strode to the wicket and together with Ben started to take to game away from the home side.

The pair added a club record 206 for the second wicket. Coombes brought up his third hundred of the season with a single. The visitors 200 coming up in the 30th over.

But there was still more to come as 139 runs was plundered from the final 10 overs. The only question to be answered as the innings was coming to an end was whether O'Neill would get to 100 or Coombes to 200. As it was O'Neill had to settle for 80 not out.

With Coombes had the strike for the final over which he hit 24 of and as the final ball of the innings sailed over the boundary for his sixth six he brought up his 200.

The second of his career as he closed on 201 not out and Dinton a massive 343-1.

For Shrewton Lucy Nicholason deserve credit as her five overs cost 35 runs and caused the two batsmen the most trouble.

Unfortunately for the homes side their innings didn't get off to a good start Dinton skipper Rich Cridge ripped the top order out accounting for the first four wickets, and when Sean Howell (1-29) trapped Simon Gillot leg before for a battling 18 leaving Shrewton were 27-5 and the match as a contest was just about over.

Cridge completed his eight overs taking 5-23.

Alf Cridge (2-30) chipped in with a brace of wickets leaving the home side 82-7.

However, they were not going to just roll over as Andy Williams and Andy Mundy started to play some shots. The pair added 97 runs for the ninth wicket.

Dinton swapped their bowlers around as they looked for the final two wickets. Both batsmen brought up their 50's as they added import batting points for their team.

Mundy had scored 58 when he went for one big hit to many as Andy Nuttall (1-36) had him caught on the square leg boundary by O'Neil.

The game was soon over as O'Neill bowled the last man Curry batting on one leg. Shrewton finishing on 182. Williams being undefended for a valiant 64.

Dinton will take confidence from this 161 run victory as they now move up to third in the table and next week host second placed Farley, in what could be a season defining match.