METHODISTS gained a three-wicket victory in their derby match against Mells at a sunny Norton Hill School.

Tidy bowling from Paul Evans (1-25) and Daniel Shearn (2-27) kept Mells' batters fairly quiet for the initial six overs - the first fourteen runs all coming from the flashing blade of Henry Hockley.

When he edged one behind, Ross Jones (31) then unleashed a volley of shots, smashing 26 from two Shearn overs, before finally picking out James Green for the second of four tremendous catches. Charlotte Hazell was then introduced into the bowling attack, and she immediately made an impact - three wickets in her first eleven balls sparking a critical collapse.

In tandem with spinner Craig Eyles (2-12), she ripped through the visitors' batting, recording career-best figures of 4-28, and leaving the opposition reeling at 77-9. Tenth-wicket pair Simon Edwards (14) and Rich Hulbert then added seventeen precious runs before Green eventually wrapped the innings up for 94 from only 25.1 overs.

After tea, terrific bowling from Hockley (2-30) and Mells' skipper Matt Seviour (1-16) had the home side thinking perhaps that wasn't a bad score!

Eyles and James Green steadied early nerves and added a vital 27 for the third wicket, before Stuart Green joined the former at the crease to put on another 18 runs for the fifth.

Lewis Norvill struck a crucial blow with the dismissal of Eyles for a valiant 34, then Steve Edwards (2-23) claimed another victim, leaving the Methodists wobbling on 68-6.

A second for Norvill (2-15) set up a tense last few overs, but fortunately for the hosts, Green Sr (18*) and Shearn were able to carefully knock off the remaining sixteen runs - giving the Methodists a narrow victory over a tenacious Mells side, who pushed them all the way to a nail-biting finish.

Methodists 95-7 v Mells CC 94 all out.

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