TOP of the table Hampset Seconds piled up 319-3 against Midsomer Norton Methodists on another hot Saturday afternoon at the home side’s compact Bloomfield Rise HQ in Bath.

The home side opted to bat first and soon began finding the short boundaries. Openers Richard Holmes and Oscar Costello brought up the fifty in the tenth over - Holmes, in particular, was able to place the ball wherever a fielder was not!

The Methodists were unable to restrict their healthy scoring rate despite snaring Costello (18), as Holmes (91) continued to rack up the fours seemingly at will. The hosts having coasted past three figures, his fun finally came to an end after clipping a delivery toward skipper James Green, who took an excellent juggling catch.

At 148-2, there were plenty of attacking batters lined up - keeper Ollie Rose (then on 22) joined by the equally aggressive Charlie Dolman, the pair pummelling 113 from the following 64 balls. With Rose (88) then caught, it was left to Dolman (79*) and Sam Taylor-Weeks (33*) to smash the sun-baked bowlers for a thumping 65 runs in the last four overs - a final score of 319-3 virtually sealing a home win.

After a much needed break, the Methodists - lacking their hosts' firepower - set out to bat sensibly. Mark Robinson and David Baker (deputising, as captain Green sat in A&E with a busted finger) batted carefully and added runs steadily. Their stand of 138 in 33 overs ended with Robinson run out for 78, but Baker (also out for 78) and new recruit Faisal Mushtaq (25*) finished well, ensuring that the visitors posted 198-2 to accrue some valuable batting points and bolster their league position.

Methodists' Ball Sponsor - Mr David Shearn. Methodists' Player Sponsors -The Dental Implant Clinic, Westsell Packaging, Mulberry, Purple Bricks.

Hampset 2nds 319-3 v Methodists 198-2