CLEEVE SECONDS 232–5 MIDSOMER NORTON METHODISTS 203–6

A warm afternoon found the Methodists at the picturesque King George V Playing Fields in Cleeve to play their Second Eleven.

Inviting the hosts to bat first, the Methodists found wickets hard to come by as Phil Gostlin and George Parsons exploited the fine pitch and large, fast outfield.

The opening pair put on 66 before Mark Robinson eventually found a way through to the stumps to dismiss Parsons (42) – Andy Martin then picking up where he’d left off and adding another forty-odd runs with Gostlin. The left-handed opener finally fell for 52 to David Baker with the score on 116, but Martin (45) and Will Grubb (49*), with help from the middle-order, were able to double that total by the interval, as Cleeve finished their innings on 232–5.

After tea, Robinson and Methodist Skipper, Alex Nash, also enjoyed the fine batting conditions, scoring a quick 41 runs before a rampant Nash (35) picked out the solitary fielder on the leg-side boundary. Robinson (43) and Baker (54) put on a good 91 for the second wicket, but slow bowlers, Gostlin and Kelston Crew had caused the scoring-rate to drop and the visitors now needed 101 runs from just twelve overs.

Although they gave it a good try, the Methodists’ middle-order were unable to regain their earlier momentum, as Gostlin (2–39), Martin (2–41) and Cam Elswood kept things under control for the home team.

The target now out of reach, Stuart Green (30*) helped the visitors post a

respectable 203–6, but Cleeve deservedly claimed the victory by 29 runs.

This week’s match (19th June) OBW Thirds versus

Methodists (Away).

Daniel Shearn