OLD BRISTOLIANS WESTBURY 3rds 209-6
MIDSOMER NORTON METHODISTS 210-7
The Methodists returned to action following last weekend’s enforced lay-off with a trip to Failand to play Old Bristolians Westbury Thirds.
Asked to bat first, the hosts made a solid start, sending anything slightly misdirected to the fence. Two quick wickets after ten overs brought Mark Beach and Louis McBride to the middle, who continued to find the rope regularly, adding 64 runs before Beach (32) was dismissed. McBride, however, could not be silenced. With the help of OBW’s middle-order, the score was doubled between the 27th and 40th overs as the fast outfield assisted the high boundary count – McBride finishing unbeaten on an excellent 87 as the home team posted 209-6.
After tea, the Methodists took time to get going but had reached 85-4 with twenty overs gone. James Green anchored the innings and vital stands of 43 with David Baker and 52 with Craig Eyles saw the total reach 170-6 in the 36th over. Although the visitors still needed another forty runs from 26 balls, the momentum was now with them, and Green was striking it nicely. After 39 overs, the Methodists were still in it – although they needed another sixteen runs from six balls, the rapid Auden Barnes (2-24) and George Houlden were now out of overs and the batsmen were able to throw everything at the final over.
After a dot-ball, Stuart Green hit the second delivery to the fence, but was then caught on the boundary off the third. Crucially, son James (56*) had got back on strike while the ball was in the air and launched the next two deliveries out of the park, bringing up his fifty and taking the visitors to an amazing three-wicket victory.
Daniel Shearn