MIDSOMER Norton Methodists went down by 22 runs on another sun-soaked Saturday at Combe Dingle, playing Stapleton 3rds in perfect batting conditions - an artificial pitch, a lightning outfield and forty-yard boundaries!

Batting first, the hosts were initially pinned down by the accurate bowling of Paul Evans and Daniel Shearn (2-23), who restricted the score to a modest 22 for 3 from nine overs. At this point, Stapleton's skipper Imran Hussain and keeper Zeehan Shahzad began to inject some momentum into the innings.

Both batted superbly and sent the ball in all directions, putting on 170 runs in just twenty punishing overs. Zeehan (86) was eventually snared by James Sackett (2-35) and Imran (83) by his opposite number James Green, but by this stage the Methodists' bowling attack was going for double figures every over.

A final flurry saw Mohammad Azhar (19 from 7 balls), Imran Akbar (29 from 9) and Subhan Shabir (40* off 22) pummel another 126 runs to post an imposing total of 318-8.

After tea, the visitors began their chase brightly - captain Green (24) and partner Mark Robinson setting a solid platform with 47 in nine overs. Faisal Mushtaq, replacing Green, then upped the ante further as he laid into the home side's bowling - his superbly entertaining knock of 99 from 57 balls putting the Methodists firmly back in the contest.

From 202-2 in the 25th over, Robinson and Sackett (31) kept the required rate under control, adding a further 59 runs and leaving 58 needed to win. However, a tidy late spell from young seamer Subhan (1-24) slowed the scoring enough that the valiant Robinson (105*) - having reached a deserved century - couldn't quite conjure an improbable victory for the Methodists.

Methodists' Player Sponsors - The Dental Implant Clinic, Westsell Packaging, Mulberry, Purple Bricks.

Stapleton 3rds 318-8 v Methodists 298-4.