There are many definitions of the term comprehensive, but the manner of Midsomer Norton's defeat at the hands of Lansdown last Saturday encapsulates all of them.
Electing to bowl, with rain in the forecast and a plentiful covering of grass on the wicket, Norton fancied their chances of making early inroads. After a mixed start, Davis did so, trapping Smith in front. That was about as good as it got for Norton though as Hankins entered the fray. Both he and Jenkins chanced their arm early, surviving some near misses, including a stumping chance that would have left Hankins high & dry. Norton would be made to rue such errors as Hankins played some audacious shots, including a reverse sweep for six that captivated the crowd. Jenkins fell shortly after reaching fifty, but Hankins continued past his half-century with ease, as he and Croker struck up a forceful pairing. A regroup after drinks saw Norton fight back, Clifton swooping in from the deep and delivering a bullet throw over the top of the stumps to beat Croker's despairing dive. Hankins continued unabated and, despite offering some chances that Norton couldn't take, he eased to his 100, punishing any width offered by the bowlers. Owen fell in short fashion, but Barnes ran well, manipulating the field as Hankins continued to throw the willow at anything he could. Barnes fell in search of more quick runs and Hankins followed, but not before moving to an at times breathtaking 188 from just 135 balls. A few more scrambled runs saw Lansdown reach a colossal total of 357. No Norton bowler established real control, but Mosena was probably the pick, finishing with 2–56.
Norton set out on their mammoth chase and, despite looking very assured, Mosena was undone by a big inswinger from Smith, trapped in front for just seven. Cox looked to add some impetus and struck some firm boundaries. Lear had begun to rotate the score before being very unlucky to be adjudged LBW, despite what appeared to be a very solid inside edge. Clifton arrived with the hitting power to match Hankins' efforts, but he was undone first ball, and Norton were staring down the barrel. Pang and Cox stroked some attractive boundaries, but both fell in quick succession, and shortly thereafter the lower order crumbled, as Norton offered precious little resistance, all out for just 111.
Some soul searching lies ahead for Norton, as they look to quickly banish the type of defeat they have not been subject to for some time. They can take some solace from the fact that they handed out a big defeat of their own to their next opponents, Frome, where they travel to on Saturday in search of a restart to their 2015 season.
With the First Team away, the Second Team, who also lost their opening day fixture at Portishead, are the hosts at Withies Lane on Saturday when the visitors will be Bristol West Indian and Phoenix CC. The following day sees the Sunday Firsts playing Old Bristolians Westbury at Withies Lane, while the Sunday Seconds travel to Backwell Flax Bourton.