Chipping Sodbury 4th XI 87 all out Midsomer Norton Methodists 195–2
The Methodists journeyed to sunny, blustery Chipping Sodbury to play their 4th XI, and on arrival, were invited to bat first.
Martin Woolley and Mark Robinson made a cautious start for the visitors, but kept the local bowlers at bay until the nineteenth over, by which time they had amassed 43 runs – Dan Morgan (0–12) bowling well for Chipping Sodbury without getting the luck he deserved.
The only two wickets to fall in the innings then fell to Alex Cummins, who first snared Woolley (19) before trapping the in-form Craig Eyles, while he was still in single figures. The arrival of Alex Nash in the 25th over, fresh from an epic 175 not out for Chilcompton CC’s Sunday side, saw the, until now, fairly leisurely run-rate shooting skywards, as he and Robinson put their collective foot down.
Their stand of 123 in fifteen overs got the visitors into a strong position, capitalising on the steady start and increasing the boundary-count considerably; Robinson eventually finishing on a career-best 64* and Nash a rapid 94* – as the Methodists posted 195–2 at tea.
The hosts’ reply also began quietly, before James Sackett (3–21) struck three times in his second over, quickly followed by two wickets for Daniel Shearn (2–8), reducing a wobbling Chipping Sodbury to 23–5.
Neil Barrett and Dan Smith halted the collapse with a partnership of thirty runs in ten overs, but Josh Potter then broke through again for the visitors as the wickets once more began to fall.
Craig Eyles claimed a brace with his tempting spin, but it was Skipper, Stuart Green (1–13) who finished things off – his quick reactions running out the last man midway through the 29th over. The home side eventually finished up with 87, Barrett remaining unbeaten on a defiant 32, but unable to prevent the Methodists claiming victory by the comfortable margin of 108 runs.
Daniel Shearn