After prevailing by the narrowest of margins in their previous fixture, last Saturday saw Midsomer Norton win in more comfortable fashion against a Taunton Deane team that included Somerset’s Roelof Van Der Merwe, who played in the county’s victory over Nottinghamshire that took them to the top of the County Championship at the beginning of the week.

In a match reduced to forty overs per side by rain, Norton won the toss and decided to bat, but again, the top order batting failed to impose itself on the opposition. Opener, Alex Lear, dug in at one end and made 29 from 81 balls, but Norton were struggling at 68-4.

Dan Nolan then came to the wicket and was unbeaten on 83 (scoring at more than a-run-a-ball) at the close of the innings. When Lear departed with 114 runs on the board, Andrew Cox joined Nolan at the wicket, and Cox’s quickfire 37 runs from 24 balls gave momentum to the innings.

Norton finished on 207-7 at the end of their forty overs. Harry Smith (3-30) and Van Der Merwe (3-22) did most damage with the ball for the visitors. Three days before this fixture, Van Der Merwe helped the Netherlands to a T20 international win over Ireland.

After tea, Taunton Deane reached fifty with only one wicket down, but Chris Hampshire (5-35) and skipper Nick Pang (2-17) destroyed the visitors’ hopes of victory with the fall of seven wickets for twenty runs, leaving the innings in tatters at 75-8. The last two wickets added more than fifty runs, but a wicket each for Sutton and Gunathilaka secured the win for the home side.

Norton now lie third in the League with a home fixture this Saturday (23rd June) against leaders, Lansdown. The game starts at 12.30 p.m. The Second XI have an away match against Pakistan Express and the Third XI have a home fixture versus Bristol West Indian Phoenix CC.

On Sunday, table-topping Midsomer Mavericks, MNCC’s Women’s team, play their final normal season game at Frome against Stanton Drew. The game starts at 1 p.m., and the team want as many of their fans and supporters to make the trip as possible.

The Mavericks currently sit top of the Somerset Cricket Board’s Mid-Somerset Division. If the Mavericks can hold on to top spot, then they will qualify for the play-off Finals at Weston-super-Mare on Sunday, 8th July, which is why they are hoping for a bumper turnout at Frome on Sunday.

Charlie Matthews