A cloudy Prior Park College played host to a 40-over friendly between reigning BDCA Division 5 Champions, Bath 4ths and Division 10's Midsomer Norton Methodists.

The Methodists’ had drafted in James Purchase and son Ollie to make up their numbers due to mass unavailability, but could still only muster ten players, so Bath (who had 12 available) lent the Norton side a fielder after Bath skipper, Matt Kerr elected to bat first.

Luke Stringer and Toby Eayres got the Bath innings off to a great start with a partnership of 87 in fifteen overs, before Mark Robinson finally ran Eayres out for 45, and he was replaced by Scott Sandford. These two batsmen, enjoying easier bowling than they were used to, retired upon reaching their respective fifties - Stringer 51 and Sandford 53 - and it wasn't until the scoreboard showed 169 that the Methodists' bowlers claimed their first wicket! James Purchase finally broke through in the 29th over, before Stuart Green then struck twice in consecutive deliveries, but Bath didn't panic as Rhys Williams (55*) and Tom Jones (26*) kept the boundaries coming to post an imposing 271 for 4 at the tea interval.

Never looking like chasing down such a large target, the Methodists' batsmen played steadily with both Martin Woolley and Craig Eyles posting 21 before picked off by the Bath bowling. Sandford (2-18) and Megs Woodward (2-46) kept things tidy although James Purchase (65) showed his batting talent and the home side didn't have it all their own way. Ollie Purchase had some fun batting with his dad for a few overs, but Eayres backed up his earlier runs with an effective spell of quick bowling (4-11) as the Methodists' innings was finally wrapped for 154.

Next week - Horrington v Methodists (30.4.22)