VICE-captain Ben Bridgen hailed the maturity of Francis Kerins after the teenage match winner had helped Wimborne & Colehill continue their superb start.

The Minstermen made it three wins on the bounce as a tight three-wicket victory over Winton on Saturday left them top of the Dorset Premier table.

After Gav Will and Joe Weld had taken three wickets apiece in Winton’s 161 all out, Kerins kept a cool head to guide his team home with an unbeaten knock of 63.

Bridgen said: “We know we can play a lot better than we did but, like the first two games, we found players who wanted to be the match winners.

“Gav and Joe showed their quality with the ball. The game was won thanks to Francis Kerins’s ability to occupy the crease under constant pressure.

“His innings was of a mature nature and deserves all of the plaudits.

“We know our all-round performance needs to improve if we are to keep the 100 per cent win record.”

Will (3-23) ripped through the Winton top order to reduce the hosts to 35 for three in the 12th over of the clash at King George V Playing Fields.

Gavin Wright (44) and Ali Williams (29*) offered resistance but Bridgen (2-23) and Weld (3-29) did the damage for the visitors.

In reply, Wimborne & Colehill endured a torrid start as Dan Baguley (2-44) left them |reeling at 0 for two as he dismissed Colin Randall and Bridgen in an opening-over double wicket maiden.

But the Minstermen recovered to secure victory in the 49th over thanks to 17-year-old Kerins.