Last Saturday at Withies Lane, Midsomer Norton fell to an agonising last over defeat at the hands of Bishopston in a titanic clash that ebbed and flowed from the very start.
Electing to have first use of a firm wicket that still held some hints of moisture, Norton again didn't get off to the start they had hoped for, as wickets fell early. Lear and Clifton staged a brief recovery, before Lear was smartly caught in the cordon off Adams, leaving Norton in trouble at 36–3. Clifton, who is rarely one to let a bowling attack impose upon him, looked to counterpunch, striking some meaty blows to give Norton a needed boost. He and Mosena looked to be setting Norton on an upward path before a leading edge saw Mosena fail to repeat the century of the week before.
Pang, returning to the line-up, was soon into his stride and proved a good foil for Clifton. Some impressive boundaries saw the game tip back in Norton's favour. That was until Clifton, who was otherwise untroubled, was drawn into a false shot and caught at cover for 46. Nick Cox came and went and shortly after reaching fifty, so did Pang. A position of strength for Norton became one for Bishopston, but Niel Brooks had other ideas, as a swashbuckling 22 boosted Norton, who ended all out for 186 in the last over. A total that was deemed defendable, but not insurmountable.
Early wickets were imperative to get Norton a foothold in the second innings of the match and Mosena uprooted Wenham's middle stump in the first over. A bizarre moment followed as Nayanah Rajh was dropped at point and the ball trickled towards the boundary. The batsman clearly believed it had crossed the line, yet Mosena had gathered comfortably inside and Rajh, who was still blissfully unaware, was run out as he stood halfway down the wicket.
The dangerous Coombes soon followed, top edging Mosena to point and when Warner chopped Pang onto his stumps, Norton were in the ascendancy at 29–4. Meanwhile, Pilling, who had already had a fair slice of luck, continued to do so. He was beaten multiple times outside off, yet never gave up the edge of his bat and he battled on, as did the formidable ex-Gloucestershire man, Hancock. They guided Bishopston back into the game, not without some good fortune, as Hancock offered a difficult chance that a full length Pang couldn't quite reel in. Pilling finally fell, driving Nick Cox straight to Mosena and when Booth was trapped in front by Mosena, who couldn't keep out of the action, the scales looked to be tipping again. Still Hancock battled on, moving to a gritty fifty, despite being troubled by a shoulder injury. Connelly was drawn into a top edge by Pang, before Khurshid drove expansively at Mosena and as the ball looked headed wide of point, Brooks took off, taking a phenomenal diving catch to his left. Adams was proactive and some scampered runs brought the target closer. Adams survived a massive appeal for caught behind, Norton convinced the ball brushed his glove, but it was not to be. Sam Gould returned as balls and runs required dwindled, before finding a ball to just clip off stump and Bishopston were nine down.
A cheap over from Mosena saw the last over begin with Gould defending six runs. Some playing and missing raised the tension further, but Cook showed impressive bottle to advance on the bowler and crash him for four. Another dot ball followed before an inside edge brought the two runs needed, crushing Norton and seeing Bishopston creep home by one wicket. Norton will rue the extras conceded, but the effort to take it so close cannot be discounted. A phenomenal advert for the game was the conclusion, both sides giving everything for the cause.
Norton face a tricky trip to table-topping Bedminster this Saturday, but in what looks likely to be a closely contested league, a win will keep them right in the title hunt. On the same day, the Second XI welcome Claverham to Withies Lane, while the Third XI travel to Nailsea. The following day, the Sunday Seconds make the short trip to Purnells.