MIDSOMER Norton Methodists' season-opener saw them make their usual trip to sunny Horrington to play in a 35 over friendly - and the outcome was a three-wicket victory for the visitors, who kept their cool when the game became close towards the end.

The hosts batted first and the Norton bowlers' lack of practice allowed Graham Russell and Oscar Sheppard-Western (16) to make a decent start. Wickets for Daniel Shearn and Craig Eyles then pegged them back, but Russell (50*) and new partner Ollie Smart (53*) confidently took the batting side well into three figures before both retiring their innings.

Wickets latterly began to fall as the home team passed 140 with ten overs left - Isaac Reed, Logan Eyles and David Baker all snaring battersn - but skipper Jon Berridge (23*) made sure Wells & Horrington reached a handy 200-7 - a useful score on one of the sunniest days of the year so far.

Post tea, the visitors' run-chase got going nicely as Mark Robinson (43) and James Green (26) put on 59 for the first wicket. Craig Eyles (34) then joined the former to add another 51 runs before Robinson finally departed in the 20th over.

The accuracy of veteran spinner Kevin Russell (3-20) then caused a minor middle-order collapse, as the Meths slumped from 127-2 to 140-6 in three eventful overs. Captain Nash, coming in lower than usual, blazed a rapid 28 (including an enormous, bungalow-endangering straight-six) but Smart quickly struck back, leaving the visitors seven-down.

Fortunately for the batting side, the experienced pairing of Stuart Green and 'keeper Dave Sackett kept their heads and knocked off the 34 runs still required - clinching a close match by three wickets, with eleven balls to spare.

It was a very enjoyable game to open the season.