Last Saturday, on a gorgeous summer’s day, it was third versus first as Midsomer Norton welcomed table-topping Lansdown to Withies Lane.

Norton won the toss and decided to bat and, despite the early loss of opening bat, Dan Dredge, the top order made reasonable progress. Alex Lear (sixty) and Hashan Gunathilaka (36) put on 89 runs for the second wicket until the Sri Lankan was run-out going for a run that probably wasn’t there. Morgan Skipp (36), Nick Pang (22), Dan Nolan (31) and Andrew Cox (21 not-out) all got good starts, but Norton lacked the acceleration in the latter part of the innings that would have put the desired pressure on a strong Lansdown batting line-up. After fifty overs, a total of 232-6 was probably 25-30 runs below-par.

After the interval, the visitors put themselves in a strong position by passing the century mark with only one wicket down. Norton skipper Pang’s faith in Gunathilaka proved one of the turning points in the game, after two fours and one six had been smashed off one of the Sri Lankan’s overs. In his next over, after one chance had been put down, Gunathilaka dismissed the hard-hitting wicket keeper/batsman Brandon Allen, who had scored 58 from just 41 balls. A mini-collapse followed and with Lansdown on 130-5, the game was in the balance.

Further wickets proved hard to come by. Lansdown reached the 200 mark with just six wickets down and with four overs to go, the visitors needed to just score at a run a ball to win the game. Dan Chard then took the wicket of Simon Cole (forty) which meant that a further 23 runs were required with three wickets left to fall. Lansdown progressed towards their target and the tension mounted. Martin Cox returned to the attack to bowl the final over, Lansdown needing eleven runs to win.

Cox turned the screw and restricted the run scoring opportunities. Alex Lear, with a direct hit with just one stump to aim at, ran out Tom Fogerty and a fabulous team effort had secured a five-run win for Norton. There were two wickets each for Andy Cox, Dan Chard and Nick Pang. Norton stay third but the points difference with Lansdown, now in second place, has been reduced. Weston-super-Mare are top. This Saturday, Norton visit Bishopston where the game starts at 12.30 p.m.

At Withies Lane on Saturday, the Second XI take on Claverham (Yatton) and the Third XI travel to Thornbury.

Midsomer Mavericks, the club’s Women’s team, can now prepare for the Play-off Finals at Weston-super-Mare on Sunday, 8th July. The Mavericks completed their normal season fixtures with a victory over Stanton Drew on Sunday. Unbeaten in their league campaign, the Mavericks topped the table in the Somerset Cricket Board’s Mid Somerset division.

With new kit sponsor Balance, the countryside gym, on board, the Mavericks can now look forward to finals day next month in a positive frame of mind. The Mavericks team, skipper and coach want to thank everyone for their support, help and encouragement.

Charlie Matthews