Winterbourne Fourths 191–7 v Methodists 185–5

Following the previous weekend’s washout, the Methodists’ final game of the season saw them away to table-topping Winterbourne Fourths.

Opting to bat first, the hosts made a solid start after losing an early wicket – Shane Henley (21) and Adam Moore (28) putting on 37 runs, but kept relatively quiet by some tidy bowling from Daniel Shearn, Mark Robinson and Craig Eyles. Josh Potter (2–37) eventually removed both batsmen, and skipper, James Green (2–36), also chipped in with a couple of wickets – however, Alex Heath and Scott Ball (37) then added 69 for the sixth. Robinson (2–43) finally accounted for Ball, but Heath (65*) was there at the end as Winterbourne made use of a 40-yard leg-side boundary and blasted 37 from the last three overs.

After tea, chasing a tricky 192 to win, some sharp bowling from Jason Cowan and Corey Kislingbury meant the Methodists’ openers, Nash and Robinson, took a while to get the scoreboard ticking over. They made steady progress though – easier bowling allowing some more expansive shots to be played as the partnership blossomed.

A stoic Nash (batting with a badly injured hand) had managed to reach 77 when a returning Cowan finally broke their 120-run stand after 28 overs, leaving Robinson and veteran batsman, Stuart Green (24), to keep the runs coming. The pair notched up 32 in 28 balls, but a quick brace for Moore (2–18) then got the champions-elect back in the contest.

In the 38th over, Cowan had the heroic Robinson (58) brilliantly caught behind the stumps by a diving Heath with eleven runs still required and, despite their best

efforts, the Methodists were only able to reach 185–5 – Winterbourne winning a close contest by six runs to wrap up their Division Ten title. Daniel Shearn