A counter-attacking 81 from Nick Pang and 5–11 from Nick Potter propelled Midsomer Norton to victory against Stapleton last Saturday. The current and former Captains combined in fine fashion, leading to a 95-run victory in unusual circumstances.

Half of the Withies Lane wicket was wet and soft, with rain having gone through the covers, while the other half was decent for batting. At the wet end, some balls were lifting from a length to head height and on the verge of dangerous. At one point the umpires even convened to discuss the pitch after a ball struck Pang on the helmet. For all the danger and difficulty, Norton did an impressive job early on, having been sent in to bat by the visitors.

Martin Cox did perish in the first over, having been promoted to open the batting, but Pang produced fireworks at the other end.

Batting predominantly at the better end of the wicket, by design, Pang went after the Stapleton bowlers. He advanced down the wicket and sent balls flying to the boundary fence with regularity. At the other, treacherous end of the wicket, Ben Strang was tasked with blunting Stapleton’s best bowler, Tyrone Isitt. What transpired was a 72-run partnership over fifteen overs, sixty of which came from the blade of Pang. By the time Strang fell for 6 off 48 balls, to another popping delivery edged high to slip, Norton were 76–2 and in fine shape.

Pang continued to show his aggression as his partners came and went, eventually falling for 81 from just 69 balls. His dismissal came after a ball reared up and struck him on the helmet, clearly unsettling the in-form batsman. Jon Harvey and Chris

Hampshire were the only other batsmen to go past double figures for Norton, allowing the tail to wag and see the side to 150 all out.

That meant it was Potter’s turn to star, grabbing his first five-wicket haul of the season as he made the most of the damp pitch. He had the ball seaming in at angles only an off-spinner would dream of, as Stapleton crumbled to 55 all out. Potter’s five wickets came through three LBW shouts and two which crashed into the stumps, showing how difficult straight bowling was at that end of the ground. Martin Cox and Andrew Cox claimed two wickets apiece, each at economical run rates, while Chris Hampshire had one.

Norton remain second in the league table, so with Winterbourne claiming maximum points in their game against Old Bristolians, the race for the title looks like going down to the final game between the top two teams at Withies Lane on 2nd September. This Saturday, Norton head to Chew Magna as they look to keep their promotion hopes alive.

On Saturday, the Second XI are at home to Twyford House and the Third XI are at home to Bristol Civil Service. Both games start at 1 p.m. The Sunday XI visit Bitton.

C. Matthews