The Methodists journeyed to Frenchay Thirds for their penultimate away game of the season, and asked the home side to bat first on the hard, dry wicket.
Daniel Thorne and Josh Tiley began their innings cautiously, the bowling of Daniel Shearn and James Sackett limiting them to just two runs-per-over for the first ten, with Josh Potter, and James and Stuart Green then maintaining the accurate approach. Frenchay scored just over forty in their initial twenty overs, but after drinks, Thorne (55) and Tiley’s (40) play became more expansive, as they began to push the score on more quickly – their first wicket stand eventually producing 97 runs, before Captain, Stuart Green, (2–35) ended their fun.
Stephen Dickie (47) and William Packwood (35*) then picked up the baton for the home side to take them north of 200 for the first time this season, the Methodists’ lack of wickets helping to maintain Frenchay’s momentum, as they posted a competitive 211 for four at tea.
After the break, the Methodists opened their innings with the attacking pairing of Alex Nash and Wayne Higgins getting ahead of the game as they added 55 runs in just 7.1 overs before the first wicket fell.
The talented Angus Duncan had a hand in two quick dismissals – Nash, LBW for 34 and Higgins superbly caught for 17 – which put the brakes on the visitors’ scoring-rate for a while. However, by twenty overs, Stuart and James Green had 104 on the board, and the Methodists seemed on course again.
Frenchay kept chipping away though, with wickets continuing to fall, as S. Green edged the tourists closer to their target – 200 coming up in the 36th over – but a sudden collapse within sight of the finish almost caused the Meths’ downfall.
Green went for a magnificent 98, with the score on 206 – well caught by ‘keeper Tiley – as William Ferguson (3–10) reduced the visitors to 210 for nine in the final over, but the Methodists just squeaked home with two balls to spare, thanks to a James Sackett boundary and much to the relief of the Norton side!
Daniel Shearn