THREE close victories put Stretford's cricketers on the crest of a wave this weekend.

Winton were the first victims of a buoyant 1st XI on their own soil on Saturday.

Stringent bowling from Gairav Sharma, Ben Casey and Tan Azan held Winton to a lowly 103/8 from 50 overs.

Sharma's prolonged spell of 19 overs cost only the same number of runs and claimed six Winton batsmen. Casey and Azan shared the other two wickets.

Top scorer was number eight batsmen Andy Ward who scored 35, largely boosting the total from 45/7, followed by Andy Walker who made 21.

The Stretford reply got off to a flying start with Chris Turner (26) and Mike Bishop (32) although things began to get nervy when these two had left at 69/5.

However, Daryl Barlow (25*) and Neil Butterworth steered the good ship Stretford home to 107/5. Australian Sean Glover took all five wickets for Winton.

A similar game was enjoyed in the reverse fixture at Stretford.

Winton's number 8 and 9 batsmen, Pollitt and Fairhurst, made 48 and 26 respectively to rescue the visitors from complete embarrassment at 52/7.

Winton finished all out for 122, after John Foulkes took 3/36 and Rick Buckingham recorded figures of 3/35.

Dave Bloor was the hero for the home side, making an excellent 68 not out including eleven fours.

Pete Smithson added 23 runs in what turned out to be a comprehensive six wicket victory.

Progression to the next cup stage was rewarded to the 1stXI after beating Westleigh on Sunday.

The game was a low scoring scrappy affair which could have gone either way at several points.

Stretford were invited to bat on a bowling wicket which proved difficult for the side reduced from Saturday.

Neil Butterworth (29), Chris Barlow (15), Gairav Sharma (16) and Jamie Alldred (18) all put in some hard work in getting the bowling away.

Brace took 3/9 in seven and Graham and Wilkinson shared four wickets.

Westleigh were cruising early on with Moon (17) and Sykes (17) slapping the ball into the canal before being dismissed by Sharma and Azan.

A middle order collapse ensued and an early victory was in sight as Westleigh crumbled to 59/8.

A late surge from Wilkinson (16) and Graham (15) managed to take the score to 110 before a fantastic run out from the boundary by Gairav Sharma ended any fears of a first round exit.

Sharma himself took 3/11, Azan 3/20 and birthday boy Martin Kelly 3/18 each in eight over spells.