WINTON 244-2 (18) beat ST GEORGE’S 186-7 (6) by 58 runs

ST GEORGE’S went down to a first away defeat of the season in Division One as they were well beaten by Winton at the King George V Playing Fields in Ferndown.

The home side batted first after winning the toss and, following a slow start, opener Harry Seal (71) batted aggressively and began to find the boundary with regularity.

This, combined with excellent running between the wickets, meant that Winton’s scoring rate increased rapidly.

Seal was eventually dismissed thanks to a smart stumping by wicketkeeper Adam Barrett and a second wicket followed in similar fashion shortly afterwards.

However, that was the end of the success for the visitors’ bowlers as Madhu Gunaratnu and Michael Clarke batted out the remainder of the overs.

The former enjoyed several slices of good fortune to finish unbeaten on 78, while Clarke brought up his own half-century just before the innings closed on 244-2.

In reply, several St George’s batsmen got starts but nobody could go on to make the sizeable contribution needed to achieve the mammoth run chase.

Colin Gough top scored with 52 for the visitors but the winning target was never seriously threatened in the face of the hosts’ impressive bowling and athletic fielding as Winton’s unbeaten start to the season continued.

They now replace St George’s, who host Sherborne on Sunday, at the top of the league table.