MIDSOMER Norton Methodists' latest guests were newly-promoted Bristol Mavericks, a side keen to build on a good win the previous weekend - and they chalked up another fine victory.

The home side, contrastingly, were under pressure from the start - coming off a heavy loss, and with their eleventh man conspicuous by his absence...

Mavericks batted first and found that the large gaps in the field allowed them to score freely, the fielding side also having to contend with a wet ball, due to the now persistent drizzle. Openers Koushik Puliyamgote and Vinay Kumar put on 103 in just 16 overs to give the visitors a fine start, before Vinay (50) was eventually trapped by the ever-reliable David Baker (3-58).

Koushik received great support from the rest of the top-order - skipper Fawas Ryan helping him bring up the 200 in the thirtieth over, and Fayas Rasheed adding another 46 for the fifth wicket. Koushik's stylish innings eventually ended on 124 when he top-edged a Paul Evans delivery, but Fayas (34*) was able to boost the final total to an imposing 286-7 by the tea break.

The Methodists' reply kept a slower tempo, their batters finding the visiting bowlers accurate and gaps harder to come by. The drizzle had now relented, so the fielding side were able to exercise more control over the ball - Meths' captain Alex Nash (45) was the only batter able to find any fluency early on.

Fawas (3-17) was the pick of some tidy bowling figures, which largely kept the home side subdued - only once Baker had joined Stuart Green (21*) did the score eventually edge into three figures. But ultimately it was the Mavericks who would be dancing the night away. . .

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Scores: Methodists 127-8 v Bristol Mavericks 286-.7