GREAT Melton's batsmen made hay in the sunshine, setting a new club record as they returned to form with a big win over struggling Beccles A.Having lost good tosses for the previous two weeks, Melton skipper Simon Woods was only too glad to be able to tell his relieved teammates that they would be batting first on a baking hot day in North Suffolk.

GREAT Melton's batsmen made hay in the sunshine, setting a new club record as they returned to form with a big win over struggling Beccles A.

Having lost good tosses for the previous two weeks, Melton skipper Simon Woods was only too glad to be able to tell his relieved teammates that they would be batting first on a baking hot day in North Suffolk.

With regular opener Richard Wood running late, Alex Cooper and Jason Whiddett faced the new ball and made steady progress, reaching 25 before Cooper was the first wicket to fall, bowled by left-arm spinner Ruddock in the ninth over.

Martin Bunn came to the crease and made immediate use of the small outfield, striking seven boundaries in his first eight scoring shots.

Whiddett fell for 18, replaced by Wood, who nudged the ball around while Bunn continued his assault, racing to 50 in 10 overs until he became Ruddock's third victim in the 21st over.

Melton's number five, Jon Howard, picked up the baton with a flurry of boundaries over midwicket as he and Wood brought up the 150 in only the 26th over as it was becoming clear that a big score was on the cards.

Howard raced to his first half-century of the season and looked well set for a 100 when he was well caught by Beccles skipper Warnes for 88, but by this time Wood had found his flow.

Matt Clarke came and went, but Mark Scott hooked and sliced his way to 14 in support of Wood as the score raced past 300 - a first for any Great Melton side. Wood brought up a well-paced hundred, his first for Melton, in the 44th over. The visitors went to tea with a massive 326-5 in the bank.

With the luxury of being able to set attacking fields, Melton expected a few early boundaries from the Beccles reply and the home team duly obliged, reaching 50 without loss in the 13th over. Barber was the first wicket to fall only three runs later, caught by Matt Clarke off the bowling of David Bunn.

At the other end, Ian Bettridge had settled into a probing line and once the ball started swinging it was only a mater of time until he got in on the action, removing Sydenham then Ruddock in quick succession.

Neil Hubbard replaced Bunn and struck in only his second over with the wicket of Warnes caught by Cooper. Hubbard followed it up by bowling Holm and Thorpe, while Bettridge picked up his third at the other end.

Martin Bunn plucked a one-handed catch out of the air to give Hubbard his fourth and it took Mark Scott only one ball to wrap things up in the 29th over with the home side still 204 runs short of the target.

Credit is due to Beccles for their perseverance and spirit during a difficult season.