PLAYING away to Stapleton Thirds on a bouncy artificial pitch at Combe Dingle in Bristol, Methodists came up short with runs aplenty on offer.

Batting first, the home side got off to a decent start, but early swing for Daniel Shearn (1-37) helped to keep them on their toes. Danyaal Ahmed (33) and skipper Aurangzeb Mohammed put on a quick opening stand of 51, but the innings' key partnership saw the captain joined at 88-3 by Imran Hussain - the pair urgently running between the wickets and regularly finding the boundary.

Punishing the Methodists' bowlers, they racked up 160 runs in just 19 overs, until James Green (2-64) eventually snared Aurangzeb for a magnificent 114. There was still time, however, for Imran (93) and fellow big-hitters Zeehan Shahzad (24*) and Imran Akbar (31*) to pummel another 91, and post a formidable 339-6 from forty overs.

After tea, the Methodists' run-chase got underway with Alex Nash and James Green adding 37 in 5.3 overs; then Nash and Craig Eyles (34) putting on a run-a-ball 79 for the third wicket. Simon Howlett's (17) brief cameo left the visitors at 166-4 with 26 gone and skipper Nash - continuing his current purple patch - approaching another century. A great stand of 88 in only nine overs with dashing 'keeper Dave Sackett (19) saw the Methodists really motoring and the opposition starting to look worried, but the accurate Fraser Butt then snared the big prize as Nash (137) was finally dismissed - the slim chance of an improbable Methodists win going with him. A total of 264-8 would have won most games, but unfortunately not in this match.

Scores: Stapleton 3rds 339-6, Methodists 264-8.

Methodists' Ball Sponsor - Steve Green; Methodists' Player Sponsors - Purple Bricks, Westsell Packaging, Molehill Construction, Bath Potters' Supplies, Timber Games.