BRISTOL NEW ELEVEN 278-7 MIDSOMER NORTON METHODISTS 126 all-out
The Methodists journeyed to Lawrence Weston to play BDCA Division Ten leaders, Bristol New Eleven, at St. Bede’s Catholic College.
Asked to bat first, the home side immediately displayed their next-level hitting power – the innings given a ballistic start by Gagandeep Singh, whose 48 runs included three fours and five sixes, of which Chris Gayle would have been proud.
Finally caught on the boundary in the eighth over, he had catapulted the total to 76, the rapid scoring tempo now taken up by Milton John and Rakesh Pillai, who then added 124 runs in 21 overs before Rakesh (63) was dismissed.
Milton (102) reached a deserved hundred before eventually being bowled by David Baker (2-44), as a late flurry of wickets saw the Methodists claim four in three overs – New Eleven posting an imposing 278-7 from their forty overs.
After tea, the Methodists set out on a quest for batting points, as they couldn’t realistically hope to chase down such a large total against a quality bowling attack. Mark Robinson (43) was the visitors’ anchor, opening the batting and playing nicely until the 24th over, when the prolific Delmi Mathew (4-16) eventually claimed his wicket.
Cameos from Craig Eyles, David Baker and Dave Sackett all helped the Methodists reach three-figures, before Gez Rideout shepherded the side past 125 for their second batting point. The innings was wrapped up in the final over as New Eleven eased to a comfortable victory by 152 runs, which also confirmed them as Division Ten champions with a game to spare.
Daniel Shearn