Taverners lose fight

WHEN Martyn Bone bowled Bertie Salt with the very first ball of the match, Deutsche Taverners had every reason to think that it was going to be their night. Victory would give them another crack at top-flight survival, anything less and they were down.

Three-quarters-of-an-hour later the greens were staring down the gun after Aussie import Justin Meades produced one of those innings few in Barclays Premier One are capable.

From just 38 balls faced Meades smashed an undefeated 58, the majority of those off the final dozen deliveries once Dave Clark had departed the scene for a breezy 28 and the Australian decided it was time to attack.

Jon Orme bore the brunt of his ferocity, his fourth and final over going for 22 as three times Meades cleared the ropes.

A 17-over total of 141 for five (8.29 per over) would prove well beyond Taverners' capabilities, although to be fair openers Mark Bisson (42) and Justin Scriven (24) gave them a decent start with a stand of 49. But when Meades struck, trapping the South African Scriven leg before, the wickets began to fall.