This friendly game started in bright sunshine, with Bath Fourths batting first. Josh Potter quickly claimed the first wicket for the Methodists with a peach of a ball, but the visitors then wasted no time stamping their authority on the match, with Captain Thiaan Aspeling and number three, Josh Godman, frequently finding the boundary during their 58-run second wicket stand.
Godman was eventually lbw to Mark Robinson for 25, while the Bath skipper retired unbeaten on 52 to make way for another batsman. Although managing to avoid the ominous black clouds which skirted the ground, the game still received a short burst of sleet, hail and icy wind, none of which helped the home side to halt the Bath batting juggernaut!
Chris Sowton and Nick Groome enjoyed themselves during the middle overs, both men also retiring on reaching fifty, before ’keeper/batsman, Beth Howe (24*) saw the visitors through a flurry of late wickets to post a sizable 250–8 at tea.
The Methodists’ reply began badly, as Andy Roberts and Ejaz Rajpoot (2–19) reduced the side to 8–3 after 5.3 overs, but, after a bowling change, the hosts were able to rally, with Stuart and James Green putting on 68 for the fourth wicket.
Roberts returned to remove James for 25, but ably assisted by Meths ’keeper, Dave Sackett (23*), Captain Stuart went on towards his century. The pair added 101 for the fifth wicket before Stuart, having survived a couple of chances late on, was finally caught and bowled one-handed by opposite number, Aspeling, for a magnificent 96, agonisingly close to the magic three figures.
The Methodists eventually finished 72 runs short on a creditable 178 for 6, a good showing considering the four-division gap between the two sides in the 2016 Bristol and District league competition.
Daniel Shearn