Excellent teamwork in the field and an efficient and fluent batting performance secured Tipton a well- earned victory against Dorset tourists Sixpenny Handley on Saturday.

Fielding first, Tipton stuck well to their task and crucially held on to some difficult catches to support some tenacious bowling.

John Rodgers struck first when he trapped Clark lbw offering no shot at the end of the first over of an accurate and hostile spell of 1-18 from eight overs.

The visitors recovered well from this early setback and were beginning to accelerate when John Williamson’s instinctive catch in the gully off Robin Pickering dismissed Goodwin.

Pickering was extracting sharp turn from the wicket and it was no surprise when he bowled Goodwin senior with one which turned the other way.

At the other end, Phil Tolley and Jem Gillham contributed useful spells to keep up the pressure, but it was Mark Channon, following Pickering’s excellent spell of 2-25 from eight overs, who made a vital breakthrough when Wright, on 64, drove him hard and straight into the hands of Tipton skipper David Birch at midwicket. Dave Dawson then caught Reeve off Channon’s next ball to reduce the tourists to 107-6.

Handley skipper Creffield (28 not out) led an aggressive counter-attack, but Birch returned with three wickets, courtesy of two fine catches in the covers from Kevin Jones and another from John Williamson, who juggled a spiralling mishit to entertain fielders and spectators alike.

Handley’s total of 182-8 was always likely to be within range of one of Tipton’s strongest batting line-ups and so it proved, despite Jones’ cruel first-baller.

Dave Jessop (39) and Matt Williamson with a fine 62 -his highest total for Tipton - put on 69 for the second wicket. Jessop’s timing looked immaculate, with five fours and an effortless six promising to take him at last to the major score he has threatened all season.

Williamson’s increasing range of shots caught the eye as he and Phil Tolley, who contributed a quick and powerful 45 not out (which featured seven fours and a six) added 78 to take Tipton to 160-3.

Rodgers joined Tolley to see Tipton home with five overs to spare, with Tolley launching a huge six over the pavilion to complete the innings and leave himself only 10 runs short of 2000 for the season