SALTFORD FAIRWAY 223-1 DEC METHODISTS 154-3

Big-hitting Saltford lost the toss and were asked to bat first in overcast conditions, with rain forecast for later in the afternoon.

Parsons and Jamie Pattimore scored heavily from the start, smashing the ball to the boundary regularly and keeping up a run-rate of nine- or ten-an-over until Stuart Green bowled Pattimore for 53 in the tenth over.

Wes Taynton then joined Parsons in the middle and together they resumed the bombardment of downtown Saltford. After 23.3 overs, with Parsons now 103 not out and Taynton unbeaten on 55, a tactical decision was made by the home side and their innings was declared closed on 223 for 1, giving them – they hoped – a chance of wrapping up a quick victory before the predicted rain set in.

So an early tea was taken, and afterwards the Methodists’ openers went out to see if they could survive against Saltford’s attack. And, although a wicket went down to the seventh ball of the innings, the answer was yes, they could survive.

Keeper/batsman Dave Sackett and all-rounder Alex Nash played carefully and added a handy partnership of sixty in 22 overs, but Sackett (20) was brilliantly caught by Pattimore and had to return to the pavilion, being replaced at the wicket by David Baker. Nash and Baker continued on until the 28th over when Nash nicked one to ‘keeper Taynton having just brought up his fifty, with the total now on 84 for 3.

Stuart Green now entered the fray, helping take the score into three figures and collecting the Methodists’ first point of the afternoon, while Baker’s innings started to blossom as he began to find his timing and, with it, the boundary. An action-packed final over then saw the long-awaited rain coming down, Baker reaching a much-deserved half-century, and nineteen runs being scored, taking the Methodists to a creditable final total of 154 for 3, while the home side could celebrate collecting the points for victory and reflect on a very astute declaration decision.