Methodists 79-1 v St Mary Redcliffe 2nds 78 all out: Following the previous wet coronation weekend, the Methodists’ season resumed as they welcomed ten-man St Mary Redcliffe seconds to a sunny Norton Hill.

Before the game started, Methodists players took a moment to remember friends lost during the off-season - club treasurer and loyal supporter Colin Millard, Robin Cray and Spike from MNCC and also the much-loved AH ‘Cliff’ Bastin from Bath Exiles CC.

Having won the toss, the Methodists asked the visitors to bat first and quickly had them in trouble. A run-out followed by wickets for Daniel Shearn (2-5) and Mark Robinson saw St Mary’s stumble to 21-3 after sixteen overs, before a solid partnership of 41 runs between Simon Jones (16) and Cleon Coleman (24) then boosted the score to 62.

Brilliant bowling from James Sackett (4-14) - allied to some excellent fielding - then caused a rapid collapse, with the visitors losing their remaining batters in less than seven overs, finally posting a sub-par 78 aall out.

After tea the hosts began their innings circumspectly against the accurate bowling of Jones and skipper James Hall but, following a quiet first ten overs, Alex Nash subsequently began to unleash some more attacking shots. He and fellow opener Robinson quickly upped the scoring-rate, with the former bringing up an excellent fifty as the scores were levelled.

Alas, Nash then perished for 51, bowled by Hall (1-7) attempting to finish things in style, leaving it to Robinson (20*) to wrap up a comprehensive nine-wicket win, with a comfortable 19.5 overs to spare.

Daniel Shearn