Midsomer Norton CC's winning run came to an end last Saturday, courtesy of a masterful, all- round display by Tom Hankins.
Electing to bat in sunny yet humid conditions, Norton started brightly. Nick Cox struck some early boundaries and, aided by some wayward bowling, the opening pair soon approached fifty. Soon after, Lear was lured into a false shot, guiding the ball to point. Nick Cox soon followed and Norton were on the back foot.
After Hankins brought himself into the attack, he precipitated a collapse as Martin Cox and Dean Clifton fell to successive deliveries and Norton had lost three wickets in seven balls. Pang and Mosena steadied things, but Hankins soon trapped Pang in front, too. Captain Potter and Mosena managed a rebuilding of sorts, Mosena looking at ease.
After passing twenty, Potter was lured into top edging a pull from Dunning and, despite Mosena reaching fifty, the lower order didn't offer much more resistance, Norton crumbling to a disappointing 163 all out. Mosena was left unbeaten on 62 and Hankins wrapped up the tail to finish with 5–26.
Knowing early wickets would be key, Norton's hopes were raised when Gould found an early edge from Jenkins. That was the last spot of joy for the visitors, however, as Hankins duly delivered a remarkable display of hitting. Looking to impose himself from the start, he found the boundary at will, racing to fifty in no time at all. Ably supported by Smith, who opened his own shoulders to move past fifty, Hankins sent the ball to all parts, including the RUH roof, as Norton's bowlers were powerless to halt the onslaught.
He finally fell trying to finish the game with another maximum, but not before racking up 92 from just 48 balls, with 76 runs in boundaries. The game was soon polished off with Norton a distant second.
Midsomer Norton CC will look to quickly move on this Saturday, hoping to return to winning ways at Withies Lane against a Frome side at the bottom of the table. The Second XI visit Bristol West Indian and Phoenix CC and the Third XI go to Hampset for a friendly fixture. Backwell visit Withies Lane the next day for a Sunday Seconds league fixture.