Midsomer Norton got their 2015 campaign up and running last Saturday with a forceful win over local rivals, Frome. With the disappointing result against Lansdown still fresh in the memory, Norton began the day looking to atone for their failings the previous week.
Winning the toss, Captain Potter had little hesitation in putting the home side in to bat on a pitch that was still holding plenty of moisture from some overnight showers. Despite this, Davis and Mosena were initially unable to find the early breakthrough and it wasn't until Pang's introduction that it came, Sanger miscuing a full toss straight to mid-off. Bleakley and Dredge looked to build and put together another helpful partnership before the day's first moment of brilliance arrived. Bleakley looked to chip Martin Cox into the legside field, but Mosena, who is quickly developing a reputation for the spectacular in the field, had other ideas as he launched himself high to his left at short midwicket to take a phenomenal catch and inject some real enthusiasm into the Norton team. Pang struck again shortly after, removing Dave Dredge, who had provided some solid resistance. Mosena returned and forced a double breakthrough, but Dan Dredge began to assert himself, striking two towering sixes as Frome looked to boost their total. Wickets continued to fall, Mosena claiming two more, before two run-outs in the closing overs saw Frome all out from the final ball of the innings, giving Norton a full complement of bonus points in the field.
Lear and Skipper, Potter, promoted to open the innings, looked for the positive start Norton needed on a pitch that was starting to offer some increasingly variable bounce. Some loose deliveries, combined with some assertive stroke play, saw that very plan come to fruition, until Lear miscued to mid-off. Martin Cox arrived at the crease with plans for a big score to get his run scoring for the season up and running. Cox and Potter continued in a positive vein until an edge was induced from Potter, who had looked untroubled until then. Mosena, who has yet to deliver in the runs column what his talent clearly promises, began very confidently, working the spinners with ease and soon was despatching Sanger for boundaries – one into the windshield of some perturbed supporters, although seemingly glad enough that the six was a sign of Mosena's arrival with the bat. It ended all too swiftly, however, as an under-edged cut saw the ball cannon back onto the stumps and Frome sensed an opening. Meanwhile, Cox had kept the scoreboard ticking over, punishing the bad ball and running well. Dean Clifton, showing little concern after his first baller the week before, was quickly into his stride, Sanger being on the receiving end of two monster strikes over long on, both clearing the car park with ease. His powerful stroke play allowed Cox to move serenely to his half-century and just as it seemed Clifton would do so too, he failed to elevate the ball over mid-off, Eddie Neal, who held onto a ball that was really travelling. Despite a few nervous moments, Cox and Pang carried Norton over the line to clock up their first win of the season. The victory catapults them up to fourth in the table, although things can change very quickly at this stage of the season.
The First Team travel to Glastonbury this Saturday, looking to put together back-to-back wins and, hopefully, get onto the sort of run that they enjoyed last season. On the same day, the Second Eleven welcomes Congresbury to Withies Lane and the Third Team play a home fixture against Exiles. Both teams play away on Sunday, the Sunday Firsts at Pak Bristolians and the Sunday Seconds at Brislington.