On a beautiful, bright, sunny day on Saturday, Midsomer Norton welcomed Potterne to Withies Lane for a friendly fixture played in front of a large, appreciative crowd.

Like the previous weekend’s opponents, Potterne finished mid-table in the West of England Premier League One in 2018 – one level above Midsomer Norton – and so provided good, competitive opposition for the home side.

Norton skipper, Nick Pang, won the toss and put the visitors in to bat in a forty-over contest. The decision paid dividends as Potterne were soon reduced to 25-5, mainly through the efforts of Andrew Cox, who finished with four wickets for eight runs in his eight overs.

In the top half of the Potterne batting order, only Ashur Morrison (25) reached double figures, and exactly half of the visitors’ total was scored by numbers nine, ten and eleven combined. The other wickets were shared between Daniel Chard (1-21), Chris Hampshire (2-23), Josh Sutton (2-10) and Nick Pang (1-28). A target of 115 for victory was never likely to be enough to put scoreboard pressure on the home team.

Nick Pang and Nick Cox opened for the home side and Pang departed for 25 off seventeen balls, having scored the lion’s share of an opening partnership of 39. A mini slump saw Norton stutter to 73-5 when Morgan Skipp joined Cox at the crease to see Norton home to victory by five wickets, with little more than half of the available overs utilised. Nick Cox carried his bat for 35 and Skipp was 26 not-out at the close, his runs scored at just about a run per ball.

With victories in the two friendly fixtures so far, Norton travel to Brislington this Saturday for another friendly. There is a friendly fixture for the Second XI at Withies Lane starting at 1 p.m.

While work continues on the new changing rooms and the refurbishment of the clubhouse, Midsomer Norton Cricket Club returns to league action on Saturday, 4th May when all three Saturday sides play their first competitive fixtures of the 2019 season.

Following promotion in 2017, the First XI consolidated their place in WEPL Prem Two in 2018. Seven wins and seven defeats helped secure a mid-table finish. An active winter recruitment policy should help the side improve on last year. Wicket-keeper/batsman, John Carroll, has joined from Trowbridge, along with Gary Filer from Chew Magna and Paul Robbins from Keynsham.

Probably the most notable of the newcomers, though, is player-coach, Jake Rowe, who played for WEPL Champions, Clevedon, in 2018. Jake is a member of the MCC and has been coaching in New Zealand over the winter. He played at Clevedon for seven years and, while playing Grade cricket in Australia, he bowled at the England touring team in the nets during the 2011 Ashes series. Jake’s brother, Caleb, is another new signing for the club.

Nick Pang continues as skipper, with support from Director of Cricket, Nick Potter. The first League fixture is away at Taunton.

On the same day, there are home fixtures for the Second XI against Bristol West Indian Phoenix and for the Third XI against Bitton. Both games start at 1.30 p.m. On Sunday, 5th May, the Mavericks, the club’s Womens’ team, play their first League fixtures of 2019 at Withies Lane. In 2018, the Mavericks became the first Somerset county softball champions.

Youth Team cricket has always been a priority for the club, and in 2019, there will be training sessions and matches for age groups at under-nine, under-eleven, under-thirteen and under-fifteen levels. Youth team coaching takes place on Friday nights (6 p.m. to 8 p.m.) except for the under-fifteens, who meet up on Thursdays (6 p.m. to

8 p.m.). Ian Locke has joined the club to help with youth coaching. Youth team registration takes place on Friday, 26th April.

New players of all abilities are always welcome at the club. For more information, contact Nick Potter: 07872 383499 / [email protected], Phil Mortimer: 01761 413725 / [email protected] or Jennie: [email protected]

Charlie Matthews