Midsomer Norton CC XI 164-5 v Methodists 160-7

With a final, short notice, game having been arranged the weekend before, the Methodists took on a Midsomer Norton CC XI at their Withies Lane HQ to enjoy the late-summer sunshine - for some of the Norton side it would be their only game of the season!

Batting first, the Methodists lost the prolific Alex Nash early on to the bowling of Matt Edwards (2-37), but Mark Robinson and skipper Stuart Green were then able to add 46 for the second wicket. Dave Sackett joined Robinson (36) briefly before the latter became the second victim of the experienced Iain Locke (2-33), bringing David Baker to the middle - Baker (30) and Sackett (21) then taking the score to 99-4 with eleven overs to go. Chilcompton Sports CC’s James Purchase combined with his wicket-keeping son Henry to dismiss another couple, but late runs from Simon Howlett, James Sackett and Daniel Shearn helped bump the final total up to a modest but respectable 160-7 at tea.

After the break, Sackett and Shearn bowled tidily to restrict the Norton XI to 43-1 from the first sixteen overs, as Mel Lawrence and Purchase Sr batted steadily and build a solid platform for the home team. A trio of quick wickets precipitated by the spin of Craig Eyles (2-8) saw the hosts slump to 49-4 at the halfway stage, but when young Henry Purchase then joined his father at the crease stability was restored as the pair added another 32 runs. James was joined by Nick Potter with a further 80 required in 13 overs and, despite some excellent fielding from the likes of Alex Howlett, these experienced batsmen had things under control. Purchase (105*) brought up a fine hundred shortly before the innings reached its conclusion, leaving Potter (24*) to hit consecutive sixes to give Norton the win with eight balls to spare, thus bringing to a close a very unusual 2020 cricket season.