A very blustery Saturday afternoon saw Mells Cricket Club visiting Norton Hill for the first time since 1997, but it was the home side who won the toss and elected to bat first.

Alex Nash and Martin Woolley started the innings carefully as Henry Hockley and Mike Ford bowled tidily for the away team. But once the first boundary came, the scoreboard began to tick over more easily. Seventy runs had been added by the time Woolley (13) was finally snared by Kieran Rodgers (2-46) in the nineteenth over, but by now Nash was motoring and once Craig Eyles joined him, the tempo picked up rapidly. 

The pair pummelled 121 runs in just thirteen overs, Nash bringing up his third century in four league games, and Eyles (40) continuing his good run of form. The latter eventually gave keeper Graham Watts his second catch, but was replaced by nephew James Green (30*), who then ran ten-man Mells ragged. 

Nash and Green put on another 93 in just eight frantic overs, Mells’ limited bowling options being put to the sword as Nash finished on a magnificent 176 not out, and the Methodists an imposing 284 for 2 at tea.

After the break, tight bowling meant the visitors’ chances of chasing down their improbable target quickly evaporated. Eyles (2-12) broke up a couple of promising stands as Steve Smith (29) and Dave Martindale (34) sought consolation batting points, before Hockley (25) hit a few lusty blows. 

Charlotte Hazell and Darcey Robinson were again in the wickets for the Methodists, but it was Green (3-6) who then wrapped things up, as the visitors were finally all out for 141.

Daniel Shearn