WINTON skipper Luke Phillips tasted defeat at the hands of leaders Cranborne – and then tipped Ferndown Wayfarers to win the Division One title.

Cranborne’s comfortable six-wicket victory over newly-promoted Winton at Penny Lane saw them maintain a narrow advantage at the summit.

Chris Dobson (28) and Charl Van Wyk (28) were the only batsmen to make notable contributions as Winton were restricted to a modest 144.

All-rounder Oli Hand (4-39) and evergreen Phil Park (3-30) took wickets at regular intervals to prevent Winton from building any momentum.

And Hand (38), Adam Beattie (34*) and Carl Poore (28) all chipped in as Cranborne passed their victory target with relative ease at 145 for six.

However, despite watching Cranborne register their sixth win of the season, Phillips believes Ferndown Wayfarers will be the ones to catch.

He said: “Although we haven’t played them yet, I believe Ferndown Wayfarers will win the title. I think they have got the best equipped squad and will prove to be the best team in the league.”

Phillips, who has seen Winton climb through the divisions to the top flight, added: “We have found it a lot harder to take wickets at this level because the batting is of a much higher standard. But we have lost a couple of bowlers since last season and that has made a big difference.”

• Dean Elsworthy led the way as Ferndown Wayfarers stayed in touch with Cranborne following a facile five-wicket triumph over struggling Bournemouth.

Elsworthy (74) shared an opening stand of 125 with James Raftery (31) as Ferndown Wayfarers made mincemeat of Bournemouth’s 165.

However, until the intervention of spin twins Sanjay Lankage and Eric Linge, Bournemouth had threatened to post a more challenging total.

David Iles (71) and Simon Russell put on 75 for the first wicket before Lankage came on to break the partnership.

Linge then had Iles caught by Karl Forrest as Bournemouth collapsed from a promising 111 for two to 165 (Robbie Stammas 3-40, Lankage 2-22, Linge 2-38).

• Parley were on the receiving end of a heavy eight-wicket reverse at the hands of Shillingstone despite the best efforts of Mitch Baker.

Baker (43) top scored as Parley were shot out for 145, a target Shillingstone chased down with plenty of wickets in hand.

• St Georges (215-6) kept the heat on the top two thanks to a four-wicket victory over Henstridge (214-6).