Bath elected to bat first and were soon reduced to 31-3 as Shailesh Bhondekar (4-20) claimed a wicket with the first ball of the game and Andy Cox (2-40) struck with two wickets in his first over.
Alain Hewett (37) and Harry Hankins (35) put pressure on the bowlers in a stand of 62 for the fourth wicket before Nick Pang (2-40) dismissed Hewett. Hankins looked dangerous but Bhondekar took an excellent running catch off the bowling of Sam Gould and then took three wickets in his second spell to wrap up the innings on 152.
Norton made a solid start with an opening stand of 39 between Alex Lear (56 not out) and Nick Pang (20) before Pang and Martin Cox were dismissed in quick succession. Dean Clifton (40) joined Lear and the third wicket added 77 to put Norton within sight of victory and the winning runs came in the 30th over, Midsomer Norton winning by 7 wickets.
Last Saturday was a good day all round for the club with wins for the 2nd and 3rd XIs – followed by a win for the Sunday side against Lansdown.
This Saturday, the 1st XI travel to bottom of the table Portishead, while there are home games for the 2nd XI against Bristol YMCA and for the Third XI against Hampset. The Sunday side visit Hanham. Midsomer Norton’s Under-19 squad play their first games in the ECB’s new U19 T20 competition this month, visiting Hampset (6th July) and Frome (15th July) before their first home game in the competition on 21st July against Bath. These matches start at 6.00 p.m.
Charlie Matthews