KILVE captain Ian Wheatley stole the show, grabbing a five wicket haul and then hitting a commanding 74 no as Kilve swept to their fourth consecutive win at Leigh-on-Mendip on Saturday.
On a wicket with ample grass cover both Adam Reid and Phil Sylvester proved hard to handle and it wasn't long before Sylvester struck and just nine balls later Chubb was run out and Leigh had slumped to 17-2.
Wood and Lambert dug in taking few chances but scoring quickly as they took toll of anything loose adding 46 in 11 overs.
However, the appearance of Wheatley at the bowling crease had an immediate impact with Wood edging to Lloyd. Not to be outdone Sylvester induced an edge from Lambert to reduce the home side to 77-4.
Wheatley made it three wickets in five overs when Williams drove to cover, putting Kilve in total control as Leigh ended the 25th over on 83-5.
Realising their side was in need of a partnership Gould and Smith got their heads down, running hard between the wickets and hitting the gaps. They carried their partnership to 58 and seemed capable of lifting Leigh to a defendable score when Wheatley bowled Smith.
Reid's first ball of his second spell clipped Gould's off bail sending the home team to 137-7 and back in trouble.
There were to be no more partnerships as Wheatley tormented the lower order to finish with 5-22, while Sylvester showed great stamina to bowl unchanged, uphill and up wind for 2-40.
Kilve's chase had a stuttering start as Gill went early and runs came at a trickle against a miserly opening attack.
Gradually Lloyd and Wheatley asserted themselves, first through astute running and then positive shotmaking. Lloyd was particularly free flowing and scorching the cover boundary with some superb drives, inspiring his captain to pick up the pace.
At 87-1 Lloyd miscued and was caught, with Kilve requiring 68 from the final 14 overs. Lloyd's demise appeared to imbue Wheatley with aggression and he immediately began to strike out. New batsman Glen Manchip played himself in with a six and two fours as 26 came in two overs.
These two overs seemed to break Leigh's spirit and both batsmen scored at will, Wheatley capped a welcome return to form racing past his half century and timing the ball better with each passing over.
Manchip (31 no) was a revelation as he struck the ball to all parts and finished the match with consecutive pull shots for four and six as he and Wheatley blasted 72 runs in 8.2 overs, securing another maximum for their team and ensuring Kilve end the first half of the season placed handily for promotion.
Leigh-on-Mendip: 155 (B Gould 34, D Wood 27, I Wheatley 5-22).
Kilve: 159-2 (I Wheatley 74 no, S Lloyd 35, G Manchip 31 no).
Points: Leigh-on-Mendip 5 Kilve 25.