As the league season draws closer, Midsomer Norton looked to continue the removal of any early season cobwebs with their second friendly of the season at home against Congresbury.
With rain in the forecast, Captain Potter elected to have first use of a damp wicket that was firm underneath and offered some early carry to the new ball. Mosena, opening the batting for the first time, found the early going a rather mixed affair, combining some sumptuous cover drives with some rather more injudicious efforts, but the Congresbury fielders were rather more accommodating than the weather, shelling two catches in quick succession.
It wasn't long however, before Lear, who lacked the fluency of the previous week, departed, struck in front of the stumps. Martin Cox arrived at the crease, but again struggled for fluency, a common theme throughout the innings. Mosena's scratchy knock ended following a leading edge and Norton were struggling. John Perry approached the crease for his first knock of the season. He was one of very few Norton batsmen who found some rhythm, with some elegant strokeplay seeing him coast along untroubled, until he was the first unfortunate victim of the pitch, a shooter leaving him rooted in front of the stumps. Clifton and Pang both came and went, the latter in bizarre circumstances, as a full toss was perhaps treated with too much respect. One could wager that had he been there for more than a few balls, the clientele of the Crossway's garden might have been ducking for cover. Potter strode out on his birthday and provided some sensible strokeplay, as Norton looked to claw their way to a defendable score. As more wickets fell, Norton scraped their way past the 180 mark as the lower order chipped in with a few extra runs. Not a great total and a batting display rooted more in poor shot selection than being victim to good bowling.
Davis and Mosena opened the bowling again, both in the hunt for early wickets. It was the former who delivered, but he was more than ably assisted by a fantastic catch by Pang, who managed not to be distracted by the dive in front of him and just got his fingers under the ball. Without the headwind of the previous week to plough through, Mosena generated some real pace, pushing the slip cordon back and the batsman too. He was unlucky to find a top-edged pull fall short of Davis. Congresbury dug in, making Norton work hard for wickets, despite some good LBW shouts from Mosena and the impressive debutant, Phylips, who quickly adapted to a pitch greener than any outfield in his native Jamaica. Pang provided some control, as is the norm, save for being despatched into the clubhouse. Gould managed to get amongst the wickets again, before Davis returned with two quick strikes to turn the game in Norton's favour. Congresbury chipped away at their target, aided by a few more dropped chances as the drizzle that had set in added some grease to the ball. The final wickets fell, as the game petered out, leaving Norton comfortable winners in the end.
In doing so, Norton wrapped up an unbeaten pre-season, but know a far sterner test lies ahead this Saturday as Lansdown are the first visitors of the league season to Withies Lane.
League cricket returns to Midsomer Norton Cricket Club's Withies Lane HQ this weekend.
The First Team open their league programme in the Bristol/Somerset Division of the West of England Premier League with the visit of Lansdown to the main Withies Lane ground. The match starts at 1 p.m. The Second Team travel to Portishead, while the Third XI entertain Mells in a home fixture at the second Withies Lane ground.
There's more cricket at Withies Lane on Sunday, when the Seconds entertain Bristol Civil Service in a North Somerset League fixture. The Sunday Firsts visit Brislington.