MIDSOMER Norton Methodists’ cricket season got underway with the traditional friendly at Horrington, with the home side emerging winners by 51 runs on a warm and hazy day.

The hosts were asked to bat first and Graham Russell (52 not out) got them off to a flyer - he and Sam Pardey pummelling 76 runs from the opening eleven overs, whereupon the former retired having reached a classy half-century.

Tom Wood then joined Pardey (36) in the middle, and the pair took a more measured approach as they added 24 runs in seven overs, before Mark Robinson (1-14) finally picked up the visitors' first wicket. Wood himself subsequently retired, having amassed a healthy 47 runs, while Oscar Sheppard-Weston (39 not out) and Ben Franks helped the hosts pass 200 from their 35 overs for the loss of only two batters. All the Methodists' outfielders were given a chance with the ball, although few troubled the Wells & Horrington batters. Even so it was a good workout for the visitors.

Heavy grey clouds rolled in during the tea-break, and the visitors' run-chase initially looked similarly bleak - two unfortunate wickets leaving them 13 for 2 in the third over. Fortunately, Robinson and skipper Alex Nash were then able to consolidate things with a stand of 75 by the midway point of the innings, but Nash (39) was eventually dismissed by Kane Truckle (1-21), bringing the experienced David Baker to the crease.

Soon Robinson retired having reached his fifty, but Baker (24) remained until Leo Nicholls' (2-29) final over, helping the Methodists to post a respectable score of 150 for 5, but not quite enough to trouble the opposition on this occasion with the home side taking the honours.

Scores: Wells & Horrington 201-2, Midsomer Norton Methodists 150-5.