Victory at Knowle last Saturday moved Midsomer Norton up to second place in the WEPL Bristol & North Somerset Division and to within six points of league leaders, Winterbourne.

The visitors won the toss and elected to bat first. After losing an early wicket, the foundations for a substantial total were laid with a second wicket partnership of 111 between opener Alex Lear, 81 and Ben Strang, 67, who scored at nearly a run per ball. After Strang’s departure, Nick Cox, 29, supported Lear, to take the score to 189-3. Wickets then fell at regular intervals, but Norton reached 265-8 from their allotted 50 overs.

The home side lost early wickets but recovered to reach 188, with only five wickets down. Norton then turned the screw and the home side lost their last five wickets for just twenty runs. Skipper, Nick Pang, took 4-31, Andrew and Martin Cox shared five wickets between them and Niel Brooks took the other wicket. With four wins in their last five games, Norton take on Old Bristolians Westbury at Withies Lane this Saturday, the game starts at 1 p.m.

On Friday, the U19 Greencaps are in action at Withies Lane, when they take on Hampset in the NatWest U19 Club T20 competition. The Greencaps also play at home against Bath next Wednesday evening, 19th July. Both games start at 6 p.m. On Saturday, the Second XI travel to Lodway and the Third XI visit Bohemians. The Sunday XI, who occupy top spot in the North Somerset Cricket League Sunday Conference Division One, visit Hampset.

Charlie Matthews