In overcast conditions, Midsomer Norton won the toss and had no hesitation in asking the visitors to bat first.
Openers, Mark Fowler and Tom Armfield made a steady start before Armfield fell to the lively Bhondekar (2–12). The power play overs ended with the score at 50–1, but the bowling of Nick Potter (2–17) and Chris Hampshire (2–20) saw only twenty runs scored from the next ten overs for the loss of four wickets. Ross Sutton batted solidly for 22, but there were no significant partnerships and the innings closed on 112 in the fortieth over.
After tea, Norton’s openers raced to 39 from only five overs before Ross Sutton bowled Nick Pang (21) and Dominic Blake took an excellent catch behind to dismiss Dean Clifton (18).
A mini-collapse of three wickets for six runs gave the visitors some hope, but Shailesh Bhondekar (26 N.O.) and Skipper, Nick Potter (27 N.O.) shared an unbroken fifth wicket stand of 56 to win the game in the twentieth over of the innings.
This Saturday, Midsomer Norton visit Bristol CC, the team one place and one point above them in the league table. The match starts at 1 p.m. The Second XI welcome Congresbury to Withies Lane and the Third XI have an away fixture against Whitchurch CC. Both games start at 1.30 p.m.