The visitors made the surprising decision to bat first on a wicket which looked likely to offer assistance to the bowlers, following the recent rain.
Andy Cox dismissed the dangerous Coombes with the second ball of the match as an inswinging yorker trapped him LBW. Dave O'Brien survived a confident appeal for a catch behind and went on to score forty valuable runs in a partnership of 67 with Joe Wenham.
Cox claimed his wicket in the last of his ten overs to finish with 2–25. Nick Pang took the wickets of Wenham and Tavener, but it was a hat-trick by Martin Cox which destroyed the Bishopston middle order and left them reeling at 114–7. The remaining batsmen added thirty more runs as Henry Voigt returned to mop up the tail, finishing with 3–45.
The target of 155 was not an easy one and Norton suffered an early setback when Chris Hampshire was caught behind. This brought Martin Cox to the wicket and his experience proved invaluable, as he proceeded to dominate the bowling for twenty overs. His 59 runs were scored from only 58 balls and ensured that Norton was well ahead of the run rate. Although the rest of the top order batsmen were unable to contribute a great deal, Nick Pang shared a stand of 23 with Nick Potter to take the score to 117–6. At this point, the result looked to be in the balance, but Andy Cox joined his Captain and steered Norton home with fourteen overs to spare.
This Saturday, the unbeaten Midsomer Norton CC First XI make the short trip to Chew Magna, while Chew Magna are the visitors for the Second XI fixture at Withies Lane. The Third XI host local rivals, Midsomer Norton Methodists.
The Sunday Firsts welcome Easton Tigers to Withies Lane and the Sunday Seconds visit Hanham.