AFTER a week's enforced layoff, the Methodists returned to action as they hosted top-of-the-table Bristol West Indian Phoenix 3rds.

On winning the toss, visiting bowlers Tom Virgo and the lively Jordan Gilling extracted good pace and bounce from the Norton Hill pitch. After a watchful 21 runs in six overs by Mark Robinson and Martin Woolley, a sudden tumble of wickets saw the home side then slump to 27-3 - Virgo and Gilling (3-20) finally rewarded for their probing opening spells.

Home skipper Stuart Green (32) brought some stability during a quick 25-run stand with David Baker, but it was the captain's valuable fourth-wicket partnership with the talented Ish Fairoz (40) which put the hosts back in the match. Featuring lots of sharp running and plenty of attractive strokes, their 75 runs in 19 overs took the score into triple digits - the final total of 149-7 also handily boosted by the 38 extras conceded by the fielding side.

After the break, the Phoenix batsmen gave early notice of the way they would approach the run-chase, unleashing some extravagant shots from the very start. Two quick wickets - including star batter Barry Gayle - geed up the home side, but ultimately didn't faze the opposition. Their line-up proved to be stacked with attacking players, who were only too happy to smack any loose bowling to the boundary.

At 61-2 in the 15th over, the inspired introduction of spinner Logan Eyles snared a brace of batsmen, before father Craig chipped in to make it 82-5 - but powerful hitting from Gilling (73*) quickly put any Phoenix doubts to bed, wrapping up another victory with a comfortable 15 overs to spare.

Scores: Methodists 149-7, Bristol West Indian Phoenix 3rds 154-5.

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