This week, the Methodists welcomed Winford Old Cathedralians to Norton Hill, and on winning the toss (again!), asked them to bat first on a bowler-friendly strip.

Tight bowling and an early wicket from Daniel Shearn kept the brakes firmly on the visitors' scoring at the start - just fourteen coming in the first ten overs - but gradually the runs began to come, as captain Tony Samuels and number three Santosh Pagire settled in. James Green (2-27) then claimed two victims in three balls to reduce Winford to 26-3, so Santosh again had to patiently rebuild things with the middle-order before he could even think about cutting loose. Wickets for Paul Evans, Howard Jones and Alex Nash held the batting side back, but, at 82-6 with seven overs left, it was time to hit out. Santosh and Premkumar Sivaloganathan unleashed some big shots and an even fifty from their final assault saw Winford posting 132-6 at tea - Santosh finishing an excellent 78 not out.

Following the break, the Methodists found the going equally tough, with the wicket continuing to help out the bowlers. Danish Ali Shah and Nav Singh (2-26) gave little away and picked up three wickets during their sixteen overs at the start of the innings, with Methodists' skipper Nash the only batsman to hang around. He amassed 42 runs before Prem eventually got him to lob up a catch - the total now 62-4 from twenty overs - and things got worse as Gulab Walke (3-19) took care of the next three batsmen. Evans and keeper, Dave Sackett added a vital 26 to bring up the hundred, and a flurry of extras from some part-time bowling made the last stretch anxious for the visitors, but with three balls remaining Winford claimed the final wicket, and victory by 15 runs.

Next Methodists league game - Cleeve Seconds (away). Daniel Shearn