Claverham, the league leaders, won the toss and chose to bat on a wicket which looked full of runs, but the visitors struggled to find any fluency against tight bowling which restricted them to 48 from the first 17 overs.
Nick Potter (2-26) then struck twice and Andy Cox bowled an excellent spell of ten overs unchanged to return figures of 1-22. Ryan Thorpe (35) and Mike Edmunds (18) put together a stand of 43 for the fourth wicket but Norton fielded well and picked up wickets regularly until a ninth wicket stand of 31 provided some resistance. The introduction of Chris Hampshire (2-6) saw him bowl just four balls as he took two wickets to wrap up the innings at 179.
In reply, Norton’s batsmen struggled to dominate the bowling and a series of injudicious shots saw them reduced to 91-6. Edmunds accounted for four of the first five before Andy Cox (17) and Nick Potter (36 n.o.) added 25. Potter was then joined by Jon Harvey (20) and they put on 44, proving the value of patient batting. Harvey was dismissed 20 runs short of the target but Potter and Hampshire saw the team to victory with six overs to spare.
This Saturday, Midsomer Norton’s First XI travel to Twyford House. The Second XI face the same opposition in a top of the table clash at Withies Lane, starting at 1.30 p.m. The Third XI have an away fixture at Harptree. The Sunday XI take on Backwell Flax Bourton at Withies Lane. The game starts at 2 p.m.
Charlie Matthews