METHODISTS slumped to a 124-run defeat at home to highflying Knowle 3rds, who were asked to bat first at a drizzly Norton Hill.

Taking advantage of the Methodists being a player short for the first hour, opening batter Peter Solomon and Rob Dennis got the visitors off to a brisk start. Anything slightly off-target was stroked across the fast, parched outfield as Knowle quickly built a solid foundation. The wicket of Solomon (23) was the only joy for the hosts as the Bristol side racked up 65 runs before heavier drizzle forced a delay after 13 overs.

Tom Hammond (26) had joined Dennis (57), adding 54 for the second wicket, but Mark Robinson (2-39) removed the former and - following a brace for James Green (2-38) - eventually the talented Dennis too. The visitors were now 135-5 from 26 overs, and skipper Neil Brown and young all-rounder Harry Britton (50*) were able to push on and boost the total to a very healthy 212-6 from their allocated 35 overs.

After the interval, although David Baker (22) attempted to kick-start the Methodists' chase, the visitors' young bowling attack kept things tight and prevented the home batters achieving the run-a-ball required. At 44-1 from twelve overs the odds looked to be against a home win and, when Brown (3-15) struck twice in one over, things looked trickier still. Alex Nash (19) and Green added a quick 29 before Brown and Fraser Rocke (3-24) dismissed both, ending Methodists' slim chances. Britton (2-7) and Hammond (2-3) swiftly wrapped things up after that as the home side lost their last seven wickets for 13 runs, giving Knowle a well-deserved win by a comfortable 124 run margin. Methodists 88, Knowle 212-6.

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