Midsomer Norton Cricket Club got the 2014 season off to a winning start in a friendly at Frome last weekend.
Electing to bat first on a pitch that didn't offer much pace, Norton's openers, Harvey (55) and Lear, made a solid start before Lear clipped one straight to the hands of midwicket.
Martin Cox started positively, before a slice of bad luck saw him bowled off his elbow. Norton then faltered slightly, losing wickets as batsmen made starts before falling. Opener, Harvey, progressed to fifty before a lofted drive failed to clear long-on. John Perry (40) batted patiently before upping the run rate and combined with debutant, Henry Voigt, who struck some lusty blows to see Norton finish on 234–8 from their forty overs.
Voigt and Martin Cox took the new ball and it was the latter who struck first, removing both openers to catches behind the wicket. As the wicket slowed, Norton's bowlers continued to patiently toil away, sticking to their lengths and giving little to hit. Pang and Davis bowled economical spells, punctuated by a spectacular diving catch in the deep by youngster, Sam Gould. Frome failed to threaten the Norton total and Voigt returned to the attack to claim his first wickets for the club, polishing off the tail to leave Frome well short, all out for 148.
This Saturday, Norton move onto their second pre-season friendly at Congresbury, with plenty of positives to take from their first run out of the season.