MELLIS visited Acton were looking to build on their good start to their Hunts County Bats Division Two campaign - and got it thanks to Chris Farrant and Mark Prior.

MELLIS visited Acton were looking to build on their good start to their Hunts County Bats Division Two campaign - and got it thanks to Chris Farrant and Mark Prior.

The final totals were Mellis 290 for four, Acton 288 all out.

Soon after winning the toss and electing to bat, they realised they were in for a tough afternoon against a strong and committed Acton side.

Ben Box and Doug Spence opened the batting and were made to work hard against the pace and steep bounce of the bowling attack.

Spence was the first to be dismissed and this brought to the crease Farrant, who immediately took the fight back to the home side.

Farrant and Box added 102 for the second wicket before Box was out for a well-judged and brave 26.

Farrant was joined by Tim Courridge, and the pair continued to dominate the bowling until Courridge was caught in the deep on 39. Farrant finished bruised but unbeaten on 182 - one of his best innings, that included 26 fours, seven sixes.

In reply, Acton lost an early wicket to the fine inswing of Keith

Green Wood, who together with Richard Morgan kept a lid on the scoring rate.

Mellis were then guilty of letting the game drift, and some good batting by the middle order kept Acton in touch.

However, the Mellis bowlers took wickets at regular intervals, with Phil and Tim Courridge claiming two apiece.

With 10 overs to go, the home side needed 110 runs and S Martin smashed several boundaries to keep Acton in the match, so it all boiled down to the final frantic over, with Acton needing eight runs and Mellis one wicket.

Mark Prior conceded a two, then a four and the game seemed to have gone for the visitors, but Prior clean- bowled Martin for 96 to leave Mellis relieved winners by two runs.