A muggy afternoon saw Midsomer Norton Methodists travelling a few minutes up the road for a local derby versus Chilcompton Sports 2nd XI.

An under-strength Chilcompton opted to bowl first, but soon found that the hard wicket and rapid outfield were very much to the batsmen’s liking. Alex Nash and Mark Robinson tucked in to anything short or wide and took just fifteen overs to bring up the Methodists’ hundred. 

The only joy for the home team was the dismissal of Robinson to Miles Hadrill for a solid 46, having put on a mammoth 159 for the first wicket. Craig Eyles then joined the the rampant Nash and the pair proceeding to pummel a whopping 194 runs in the remaining seventeen overs - Eyles notching up 64 not out, while Nash posted a personal best of 211, as the visitors finished on an amazing club record of 353 for 1.

Facing a near-insurmountable target, the home batsmen went out to enjoy their time in the middle. The vastly-experienced opener Nick Marsh (22) stroked five effortless boundaries to kick things off, but left-armer Paul Evans (3-16) saw to it that the hosts were soon two-down. More wickets fell to Charlotte Hazell (1-17), James Sackett (2-21) and Mark Robinson (1-17) as most Chilcompton batters spent only a short while in the middle - the exception being Henry Purchase, whose terrific innings of 49 contained an array of fabulous shots. 

Latterly, Dan Rogers (12) showed tremendous promise, but it was the bowling of Darcey Robinson (2-27) that had the final say, as she wrapped up the home side’s innings for 145 after 29.3 overs.                 

Daniel Shearn