MIDSOMER Norton 2nd XI and Timsbury served up a cricket classic in a Bristol and District League Division 1 clash that produced over 500 runs, saw two individual centuries and which was in doubt right to the final ball. In the end it was Midsomer Norton, the home side, who prevailed by four runs on a belter of a pitch.

Having won the toss and decided to bat first Midsomer Norton got off to a dynamic start mainly due to the efforts of John Carroll who hit a rapid 52 and who dominated an opening stand of 60 with Martin Cox. The experienced Cox soon came into his own, however, and pacing his innings to perfection reached an excellent 112 with 14 fours and 1 six and with useful support from Josh Rodd (26) and skipper Chris Hampshire (23) Midsomer Norton were able to set a challenging total of 256-6 from their 40 overs. Spinner Martin Richards was again Timsbury’ s top bowler with fine figures of 2-28 from his 8 overs.

In reply the visitors made the worst possible start, losing their first three wickets for just 26 runs. A target of 256 looked a million miles away but step forward Timsbury’s latest acquisition Russ Wakefield who was to make the kind of debut that dreams are made of. Together with skipper Jesse Bishop who struck a crucial 42 he added 98 runs and with support from the lower order Wakefield took Timsbury to the brink of a famous victory before being last man out for a superb 133 with his side needing four off the last ball to tie. To cap a memorable match Cox was the home side’s leading bowler with figures of 4-21.

There was disappointment for Timsbury’s second eleven whose game with Winterbourne was cancelled as the visitors were unable to raise a side but there is no stopping the club’s third eleven who have quickly put the 2024 disappointments behind them to register their second convincing win of the season in the Bristol and District League Division Nine East.

Visitors Bitton second eleven were dismissed for 184 with Shakil Malik top scorer with 43. Matt Ball took 3-25 and there was a brace of wickets for Freddie Hosford, Neil Hulford and Tom Philip. In reply Hulford (56), Hosford (46 not out) and Ball (35) followed up their success with the ball with vital batting contributions as Timsbury won by 6 wickets to sit proudly at the top of the league table