With the Union Jack flying high over the Launceston clubrooms, the visitors chased down 7-144 with five of their 45 overs to spare thanks to a polished half-century from Richard Merriman.

The Derbyshire native retired on 51 not out off 80 balls to vie for man of the match honours with teammate Neil Stevens (1-10 off nine overs).

Simon Clements also made a handy 28 not out to steer the UK side home.

Sidmouth left-armer Roger Edmunds was by far the pick of the home side's bowlers with a miserly 0-5 off six overs, while Phil Robertson (1-22) took a wicket off the first ball he bowled.

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Earlier, the home side's innings started slowly thanks to tight bowling from Stevens and Jim Phillips (1-16 off nine), while Richard Harris (2-38) was the game's only multiple wicket-taker.

Launceston's Glenn Richardson made 17 at the top of the order while Graham Wilson scored a quickfire 32 not out from number seven.

The UK's oldest player - Shropshire County bowler Andy Parkyn - said Merriman had been crucial.

"He's perhaps a marginal Test player and he's trying to secure a place for the first Test which will be in Canberra," Parkyn said.

"We bowled very well, a lot of the bowlers had good figures so it restricted [the hosts] to about three an over."

The 69-year-old, who has plans to return to the state next summer should he make the UK's over-70s team, said he had enjoyed his first visit to Tasmania.

"I like it very much - it's a bit like New Zealand," he said.

"It's got dramatic scenery, whereas everywhere I've been on the mainland has been pretty flat but this is like bits of Scotland and Wales."

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