ST GEORGE’S 238-6 (19pts) beat WINTON 237-8 (8pts) by 4 wickets

ST GEORGE’S inflicted only a second defeat of the season on title rivals Winton after a nail-biting finish at Dorchester Rec.

The visitors batted first after winning the toss but were left reeling after the hosts’ new ball pair of Matt King and Crispin Brown made the most of the overcast conditions to rip through the top order.

King made the initial breakthrough dismissing both openers in consecutive deliveries before Brown took the next three wickets to fall with both swing and seam movement. Winton’s score had limped to 41-5.

However, sixth-wicket pair Matt Clark and Luke Phillips took advantage of the change bowling.

Clean striking and excellent running between the wickets saw them bring up their individual half- centuries and a three-figure stand.

Phillips was eventually run out by Rob Cole’s accurate throw from deep cover and Clark fell in similar fashion just eight runs short of a century.

Charlie May then gave the innings a final flourish, striking a number of deliveries into the adjoining cemetery, although the final two overs brought only a handful of runs, which was to prove crucial as the Winton innings closed on 237-8.

The St George’s reply was led by Rob Cole and Adam Barrett’s second-wicket stand of 75.

Cole was the dominant scorer striking several powerful drives to record 11 boundaries in his innings of 48.

After his dismissal, the scoring rate slowed and 100 runs were still needed form the final 10 overs.

Rupert Guppy took up the challenge and, together with Rich Cole, he started to attack the bowling.

Guppy overcame the loss of his partner with a painful looking knee injury to strike three sixes over mid-wicket which together with several other boundaries put his side right back in the contest.

After Guppy’s dismissal for an excellent 54, Brown struck another blow into the cemetery and, together with his bowling partner King, the pair brought up the winning runs in the last over.

The victory sees the county town side draw level on points with their opponents at the top of the table but Winton still have a game in hand with only three weeks of the season remaining.

St George’s host Sherborne at the Rec on Sunday (1.30pm).