Midsomer Norton gained seventeen points when they beat Taunton by three wickets at home.

The visitors were asked to bat first when Nick Potter won the toss for the first time this season. Taunton's innings began cautiously and Norton's opening bowlers picked up a wicket each.

The fall of the third wicket brought Tom Abell to the crease. His two previous innings were centuries, but tight bowling ensured that he was unable to dominate and he lost two partners before he was joined by Williams.

The sixth wicket added forty before Abell was deceived by a ball from Pang which he guided into the hands of Potter. Williams played a captain's innings, scoring 53 from 55 balls, to boost the total to 160 before his was the last wicket to fall at 160. Pang and Andy Cox each took three wickets and Turner conceded only 23 from his ten overs.

Taunton's bowlers bowled with determination and energy and Norton lost Lear in the second over. When Martin Cox departed to a bizarre delivery from Dickins, Norton had to regroup. Jon Harvey shared in two partnerships with Clifton and Potter which took the score to 73 for three, but the loss of two quick wickets turned that into 73 for five.

Andy Cox then joined Pang who silenced the Taunton fielders with 31 from only 27 balls. When he was caught and bowled by Abell, the score had moved on to 116, which seemed a long way from the target, but Cox and Turner showed that the Norton tail is short as they stood firm in a partnership of 39, giving Norton victory by three wickets with 11 overs spare.

Winsley 2nd XI 149 vs

Norton 2nd XI 332­–4

After inserting the visitors on what looked and proved to be a good pitch, Winsley were left rueing their decision as Norton's openers Tabb and Cray capitalised on early loose bowling. However, Cray was left wishing that he had said to himself: "I will wait" as a wide half-volley was lobbed to cover, where the catch was taken to complete the pleasing fielder/bowler combo of Mumford and his son. Nigel joined Chris to complete a Tabb brotherly partnership that was to form the spine of the innings, both batsmen finding the boundary with regularity. It was a trend that continued before a seemingly inevitable century by the ever-elegant C. Tabb was denied as he was stumped on 95. His brother continued in fine fashion, reaching his half-century on account of a couple of sixes eased over the boundary and into the field beyond. Looking to up the rate, N. Tabb was cleaned up for 71.

This left the innings to be finished by the dynamic Webb, who himself reached his half-century, and cameos from the youth. The last 60 balls went for around 10 an over as Webb and Cox tested their fitness against the beleaguered fielders, who had been chasing leather all day. Aided as ever by a substantial amount of extras, Norton reached an impressive 332, the highest score in Rob Cray's recent memory by the Second team.

If Norton were expecting a walkover, they were jolted into action as the first five overs of the reply went at 11-an-over, some well-timed flicks and snicks flying across the quick outfield accompanied by worryingly regular wides, an issue that Norton must resolve if they are to be a threat this season. N. Tabb was brought on to provide accuracy and did so, the sage introduction of the heavy ball inducing a mis-timed pull into the hands of Nathan Bowen-Jones, who took the catch with an ease belying his debutant status.

Two more wickets fell in quick succession, and it appeared that Norton had found the tail earlier than expected.

Spencer remained steadfast at one end until Gould found a rhythm to pin him in front, in similar fashion to an earlier appeal that had been denied. Gould was a real threat, zipping the ball through away from the batsmen's defences with regularity, and looked to be capable of doing so against more robust opponents. In the middle, the match was all over bar the shouting, but Toby Hobbs returned with far more accuracy than his opening spell, though this, in truth, was not a challenging task. Once Gould's ECB-allocation had been exhausted, Lauren Bowen-Jones entered the fray, proving miserly in her line and length. The accuracy was soon rewarded with a tumbling catch to Cox, which was heartbreakingly missed by the photographer-in-residence who Norton were otherwise thankful to for providing excellent profile-pic potential. Lauren finished with figures of 4-8-1 and did not look out of place at this level, a testament to such a young talent. Winsley passed the bonus point cut-off of 120 but were soon dismissed as Biggs proved too quick.

A victory by 180 runs was perhaps symptomatic of a gulf between the teams, but the superb surroundings, facilities and welcome made for a pleasant game. With more and more youths returning, the opening day embarrassment seems a distant memory, the club looks to push for greater things if the bowling can be kept tight and the website scorecards added with alacrity.

This Saturday, the Norton First Team travel to Bristol to take on Brislington while Great Bedwyn provide the opposition for the Second Team at Withies Lane. The Thirds are at Farmborough where they play Easton Cowboys. On Sunday, at home: the Sunday 1sts play Knowle on the Withies Lane pitch while the 2nds play West United at Somervale.