Mells 108 all out

Methodists 110-3

The Methodists’ final league fixture of the season took them to sunny, picturesque Mells.

The home side opted to bat first, but then lost a man to a run-out in the very first over. Opening the bowling, Daniel Shearn and Charlotte Hazell kept the scoring under control to start with - Kieran Rodgers and Matt Seviour (20) taking the total to 32-2 from ten overs - but then some more expansive shots saw the hosts reaching 58-3 after sixteen.

Two victims in successive balls to left-armer Paul Evans (2-14) then meant Mells having to rebuild, with Graham Watts (29) joining Rodgers (34) to add a careful 29 runs for the sixth wicket. But a sudden collapse then caused the end of the innings to come swiftly. Logan Eyles picked up his first wicket for the Methodists, while Darcey Robinson’s tidy spell of 3-22 finished the job - her looping deliveries bowling out ten-man Mells for a modest 108.

In reply, the visitors also lost an early wicket before James Green and Craig Eyles then calmed the nerves with 28 runs in ten overs. A great catch from Archie Rodgers saw Seviour (2-24) then pick up Eyles - the calm head of Mark Robinson now coming in to help Green with the run-chase. The latter was on fine form, finding the boundary on multiple occasions as runs began to flow more freely, but a great ball from young Archie then disturbed Green’s woodwork and he had to depart for a well-compiled 40. Methodists’ skipper Alex Nash (34*) then joined Robinson (16*) to quickly knock off the remaining runs - Nash passing an amazing 1000 league runs for the season in the process - and guide the team to a comfortable seven wicket victory.

The Methodists’ last game of the season will be against JAH Eyles’ XI, from 1pm at Midsomer Norton Cricket Club on Sunday 10th September. Daniel Shearn