On a humid afternoon, Amesbury captain Jayme Underwood won the toss and for the first time this season, opted to make use of the new ball and bowl first.

Amesbury's opening bowling combination of Gareth Dobson and Jayden Atkinson got to work and both bowled a disciplined line and length to restrict scoring opportunities for Winterbourne's openers, Jamie Harvey and Matt Windows.

Such persistence was rewarded in only the 3rd over, with Dobson trapping Windows LBW for 1 to leave Winterbourne 1/1. Manny Gurung entered in at 3 and in partnership with Harvey, played watchfully whilst punished any loose deliveries to build a useful 51 run partnership and leave Winterbourne handily placed on 52/1 after 14 overs.

The introduction of Macauley Atkinson proved dividends, removing Gurung when looking set on 20, edging behind to a sharp catch by wicketkeeper Andy Renshaw. Atkinson followed up just 2 balls later, bowling Mick Hunter for 0 to bring Amesbury firmly back into contention.

Debutant Jack Senescall was also introduced into the attack and immediately caused problems for Harvey and Ed Dadd, bowling a probing spell with little reward. Looking to occupy time at the crease, both Harvey and Dadd played intelligently, rotating the strike and finding the boundary when offered to move the score to 110/3 at the 30 over mark.

A breakthrough was required and this was duly delivered, after Dadd looking for a second run, being run out after a sharp throw by Dando positioned at point to keeper Renshaw who dislodged the bails to leave him agonisingly short of his ground and depart for a well made 36.

Looking to up the tempo, Harvey played a number of crisp drives to reach a deserved 50, although shortly afterwards, he drove straight to Martin Smith at mid-off to depart for a crucial 53.

With the score reading 122/5, Gower was brought into the attack and continued his recent good form by bowling Chris Breeze through the gate for 0. Leading on from the excellent spells bowled by Macualey Atkinson and Jack Senescall, Jayden Atkinson was re-introduced and in unison with Gower, tore through the Winterbourne lower order.

First, Alastair Byrne was smartly claimed by Senescall off the bowling of Atkinson for 12, and Winterbourne captain, Matt Newman then removed for 6 after finding Underwood at mid-off again off the bowling of Atkinson. Atkinson's spell was further rewarded with the wicket of James Ward, picking out Senescall for 0 to leave Winterbourne 140/9. Despite a couple of lusty blows from Joe Cunnigham, Gower wrapped up the innings removing him for 10 to close the innings on 154 all out.

Fantastic efforts were made by all of the bowlers. Dobson (1/25), J Atkinson (3/30), M Atkinson (2/36), Senescall (1/24) and Gower (2/33)

After tea, Amesbury openers Underwood and Renshaw began proceedings against the spin attack of Breeze and Dadd. The score advanced to 14, when Renshaw picked out Ward at mid-on to depart for 9. Sam Dando entered in at 3 and was shortly dismissed for 0 off the bowling of Dadd.

Senescall joined Underwood at the crease and immediately stamped his authority, punishing any loose deliveries to rapidly advance the score. After hitting Breeze and Dadd out of the attack, Cunningham was introduced and also felt the force of Senescall. With Amesbury well placed on 77/2, opposing captain Newman removed Underwood for 12 after picking out Hunter in the gully region.

Senescall continued in fine form, reaching a sublime 50 and in combination with Gower moved the score to a healthy looking 109/3. However disaster was to strike, firstly with Senescall caught and bowled off the introduced Gurung to depart for a magnificent 67 and Gower then picking out Dadd at long-on to depart for 12 off the bowling of Newman.

With the game firmly in the balance at 113/5, Smith and Jayden Atkinson began to re-build, picking off singles and finding the odd boundary to edge Amesbury closer to the required target. A 17 run partnership ended with Smith returning a delivery straight back to Newman for 8 and Atkinson subsequently caught behind off Gurung for 15.

It didn't take long for Winterbourne to claim their 8th wicket, Gareth Dobson holing out to Dadd at long-on for 3 and leave Amesbury 137/8 in the process. Despite rearguard efforts from Macauley Atkinson, Kian Smith and Gavin Burkwood, Gurung found the outside edge of Smith and the innings finished with Atkinson, looking to reduce the number of runs needed bowled off the same bowler to leave Amesbury 142 all out and agonisingly, 12 runs short of the required target.

Pick of Winterbourne's bowlers were Gurung (4/19) and Newman (4/30).

Amesbury will look to bounce back next weekend, when they host Paultons at their Archers Gate home.