TOTTON & Eling captain Richard Dibden saluted his side’s “professional display” as they returned to winning ways with a comprehensive 170-run win over depleted St Cross Symondians at Southern Gardens.

Dibden had issued a pre-match rallying call to his troops demanding an improvement in the batting department following their 61-run defeat to Hampshire Academy, when they posted just 156 in their reply, last time out.

And they responded just as he hoped they would.

Five players contributed more than 30 – the returning Dave Banks leading the way with 71 – as the home side cleared the 200 mark for the first time this season, finishing on 297-8 at the end of their 50 overs.

And when St Cross went in to bat a Totton victory rarely looked in doubt as the visitors lost wickets at a regular rate.

That outcome was eventually confirmed when St Cross were skittled out for just 127 with a huge 22.4 overs to spare.

“It would have been easy to go through the motions after putting on a score like that,” Dibden said.

“But there was also some good catching and fielding when they were in. It was a good, professional display.”

Opting to bat after they won the toss Totton reached 42 before Luke Towers (19) was dismissed.

That brought former Hampshire opener Derek Kenway (51) to the crease and alongside Banks they put on an excellent second-wicket partnership of 106.

As St Cross struggled to get that vital second breakthrough they were left reflecting on what might have been.

Tim Foyle had dropped Banks at cover when the Totton opener, playing for the first time after a two-week holiday, was on just 20.

And he went on to make them pay, reaching 71 before Foyle eventually got his man, trapping Banks lbw to leave Totton on 148-2 at the halfway stage of their innings.

With that platform behind them Totton’s middle order had room to manoeuvre as they also chipped in.

Azimunnoor Chowdury (43), Rob Franklin (33) and Adam Sharp (32) all made significant contributions as Totton built on their openers’ foundations to finish three runs short of 300. Sharp’s 32 not out was especially eye-catching, coming off just 16 balls and including three massive sixes.

“We got 11 sixes, which all came in the second 25 overs, and 36 fours,” Dibden smiled.

“There were 25 extras as well so there was only about 60 or 70 runs run so it was a good power display.”

In St Cross’ reply, Archie Fellowes was the first to go with the visitors on 17.

His fellow opener Charlie Esson (31) offered the main St Cross resistance.

But when he departed to leave the visitors on 74-6 nobody else really did apart from Steve Fryer (22) as James Manning (7-0-44-3) and Azimunnor Chowdury (6.2-0-39-4) did most of the damage to dismiss the visitors for 127 and seal a comfortable victory for Totton.

“The important thing is to get back to winning ways and get into the habit of putting some winning scores on the board,” Dibden said.

“That is the first time we have gone over 200 and in the end we nearly got 300 in the end.

“Hopefully we have not used all our runs up in one game!”

As comfortable as the victory was, though, Dibden was quick to acknowledge that St Cross were not at their strongest.

They were without the likes of Jimmy Adams, who was playing for Hampshire in the Friends Provident Trophy, and New Zealander George Worker.

“You can only beat the side that’s in front of you,” Dibden said.

“But if you put Jimmy Adams into that team and George Worker, who is a first class player in over in New Zealand, it makes a big difference.”