The Methodists’ season got underway with a visit to a chilly Horrington for a forty-over friendly, with players fondly remembering last weekend’s more summery weather...
Ten-man Horrington were asked to bat first. Sam Pardey and Mike Fear made a solid start, adding 47 runs in sixteen overs before the first wicket fell to the spin of Craig Eyles. Tom Wood then joined Fear, and the pair’s more expansive play saw another 68 put on, until Methodists skipper, James Green (2-34), again broke through for the visitors.
Fear eventually holed out for a handsome 84 as he tried to up the ante, and then an accurate spell from David Baker (3-22) saw a flurry of wickets which kept the home side’s score down to a chaseable 171-6.
After tea, Methodists’ openers, Mark Robinson and Wayne Higgins, laid a solid platform, with forty runs in nine overs, before tidy bowling from the father and son pairing of Kevin (2-28) and Graham Russell (2-10) claimed two wickets apiece, reducing the tourists to 69-4 at the midpoint of the innings.
Baker and Josh Potter then helped the visitors gain the upper hand, as their partnership added 65 in good time – Potter remaining at the crease until the 38th over, and posting a career-best 42. Another late wobble saw four wickets fall to Fear (2-52) and Sam Vincent (2-16), but fortunately the experienced Stuart Green (27*) was on hand to get the Methodists across the finishing line, taking sixteen from the final over to clinch a last-ball, two-wicket win for the Norton side in front of a gaggle of frozen spectators.
David Shearn