OPENER Kunal Patel hit his highest score in first XI league cricket as Trinity Mid-Whitgiftian survived a late collapse to beat Bank of England.

Patel hit nine fours and three sixes in a superb 65 on a day when few other batsmen could hold their heads up high.

Having been invited to bat on a difficult surface, Bank struggled as fine opening spells from Mark Roberts and Gavin Piper beat the bat with regularity. Mids were rewarded when Patel caught opener Simon Smith at the second attempt off the bowling of Piper.

Once they had settled at the crease, David Lawrence (32) and Bank captain Damon Ridgway (20) started to carry the attack to the bowlers as 45 runs were scored in just four overs.

However, the shape of the game changed dramatically when Bank lost both batsmen lbw in successive overs.

A disastrous collapse ensued as eight wickets went down for just 19 runs due to a combination of good bowling and poor judgement on the part of the batsmen.

Piper, who has been Mids most consistent bowler this season, bagged himself 5-42 as Bank slumped to 96-9.

It took an unbeaten 28 from number 11 Matt Cannon to drag the hosts up to 134.

Mids made an assured start in reply as Graham Cobbett and Kunal Patel saw them half way to their target with considerable ease. A double bowling change saw Bank improve after the tea interval as Crane picked up the wicket of Cobbett and spinner Dunthorne started to apply some pressure at the other end.

Yet Mids gradually began to exert their authority once more, Patel playing some sumptuous shots and reaching his 50 with a straight six.

At 110-1 a convincing victory appeared to be a formality but Mids made unnecessarily hard work of finishing the job after Rob Warne was given out lbw to Dunthorne.

Richard Piggin took a wild swing at his first delivery and was bowled by Dunthorne before Patel fell in the next over after misjudging a ball from Samanta at the other end.

Some eccentric running between the wickets from Nick Cook threatened to spark chaos.

Richard Nowell was almost run out before being bowled next ball by Prabat Samanta and the unfortunate Mike Brugnoli was then run out at the non-striker's end when Dunthorne deflected Cook's drive on to his stumps.

However, Cook survived to finish unbeaten on 12 as Mids eventually stumbled past the post.

They now have three home games to look forward to starting with tomorrow's visit of Metropolitan Police.