AFTER a five week hiatus thanks to blank fixtures and bad weather Dinton second XI finally got back on pitch with a trip to Appleford School to take on Shrewton third XI and came away with an eight wicket win.

Heavy rain in the week made the wicket rather green and look like the sort of surface that most bowlers would like to roll up, put under their arm and carry around with them.

So Dinton were rather surprised to find themselves in the field having lost the toss.

The visitors made a perfect start striking with the first ball of the match as opener Gillot chipped a ball from James Nuttall (3-13) into the waiting hands of Alfie Cridge at square leg.

With Nuttall bowling well and being backed up by Toby Allen (1-10) playing only his 2nd league game of the season thanks to injury, Shrewton were only allowed to go at 2 runs an over. Nuttall completed his 6 over spell with 3-13.

Martin Stennings was brought into the attack at the school end and continued to keep Shrewton in check. Alex Protheroe did his best to hold the innings together but struggled to find support at the over end as wickets started to fall regularly. Stennings finished with 3-21 from 7 overs all three being courtesy of LBW’s as the batsman fell in the trap of stepping across him to leave them in front.

Skipper Rich Cridge replaced Nick Gale who had struggled to find his length from the other end. Cridge had no such problems as he too mopped up the tail with 3-8 from 4 overs at one point being on a hat-trick.

In the 28th over, Shrewton were bowled out for 73, Protheroe finishing with over half that total as he struck 35 before he became one of Stenning’s aforementioned LBW victims.

Chasing such a low total can hinder sides in gaining maximum points and so it proved for Dinton, as they lost two in chasing down their target. Cridge drilling a full toss straight to mid-on and vice- captain Tom Patrick top edging a pull to mid-wicket of the bowling of Nicholson and Jackson.

The loss of the 2nd wicket brought Simon Rawlins in to join Nick Gale. With 45 still required the pair took no risk of any further losses but they were still positive, Gale in particular as he hit the winning runs in the 19th over to finish on 44 out, Rawlins on 8 not out.

Dinton’s 8th win out of 9 games keeps them at the top of the table. With OT and Romsey pulling out of the league there is only one game left which is next week away at Bramshaw. With local rivals nipping at their heals next week’s game has become a must win affair.