Midsomer Norton Methodists Cricket Club achieved a strong victory as they beat Bristol West Indian Phoenix third by seven wickets.

Methodists travelled to a parched Kellaway Avenue, with Bristol West Indian Phoenix opting to bat first on what was a very dry pitch.

The visitors began well, quickly claiming the wickets of both openers, as the home side made a tentative start to their innings. But Tom Virgo and Ollistere Murphy then really kicked on - the pair racing to 90-2 in the 18th over, a stand punctuated with some magnificent sixes.

While the ball-striking was breathtaking, the running between the wickets was less so, eventually leading to Murphy (48) being stranded just short of his fifty. Replaced by the big-hitting Zemroy Thomas, the stroke play resumed unabated until the introduction of Charlotte Hazell and Darcey Robinson into the Methodists' attack.

This change in bowling style saw the batters swinging wildly at deliveries which took their time to arrive, prompting much amusement from the Phoenix players back at the pavilion.

Hazell (2-58) eventually got the better of Virgo (65), and Thomas (80) succumbed to another run-out, as the Methodists' ladies both made telling contributions. More hitting and erratic running finally got the hosts to a competitive 243-8.

The Methodists would need to bat well to reach their target and, fortunately, they did - skipper Alex Nash once again an irresistible force. Having lost three partners to the tidy bowling of Herman Vassell (2-43) and the impressive Thomas (1-25), Nash found solid support in James Green (36*), who joined him at 122-3 and helped double that score.

Nash was at his unstoppable best, unbeaten on 186 not out - amazingly for the second time this season - taking the tourists to a well-deserved seven-wicket victory.