Midsomer Norton returned to winning ways last Saturday on the back of a masterful batting display from Martin Cox. After losing the toss, Norton started with ball in hand. They made an excellent start, keeping runs tight and beating the bat, but the breakthrough wasn't immediately forthcoming.

The introduction of Davis brought the first wicket, nipping one back through the defences of Mason, and Sam Gould also added the wicket of Hotham shortly after.

Ellison and Easton then formed a useful partnership before Gould claimed his second, trapping Ellison in front. Gray was soon run out in a mix-up, but Stratton, who at first looked unsure, began an impressive counterpunch. Easton, full of shots but also playing and missing, rode his luck and fell after reaching fifty when he chipped Pang to Captain Potter. The lower order all assisted Stratton in pushing the total past 200, but after Mosena bowled Stratton, a flurry of wickets saw Glastonbury fall one run short of maximum batting points, ending on 224–9, a total Norton felt happy chasing, given the ease of batting on a relatively flat wicket.

Norton's chase didn't begin in ideal fashion, as a mix-up saw Lear caught short of his crease. Nick Cox soon followed, feathering one behind, which left the home side 18–2. Martin Cox soon went about readdressing things, though, quickly into his stride, he was particularly strong through the offside. Ably supported by Mosena, who returned to heap further misery on Glastonbury, the pair quickly racked up the hundred partnership, as they put Norton firmly in control of the chase. Both soon passed fifty and such was the ease of batting, it was a surprise when Mosena picked out deep midwicket to fall for an otherwise untroubled 53.

Dean Clifton was in no mood to hang around and quickly racked up five boundaries, before he too found a man in the deep to fall for 23. Pang was quickly trapped in front and a few nerves began to jangle, especially with the previous week's collapse still fresh in the mind.

Cox continued unabated and not long after some more powerful leg-side shots moved to a glorious hundred, well received by the local support. Norton wobbled again, however, as first Potter and then Harvey fell to catches off the bowling of Shawcross to make it a tense finish. A boundary from Hampshire in the 49th over saw Norton needing only one run from the last over and Cox soon obliged, dispatching the ball over cover to fittingly bring home the victory.

Norton head to Bishopston this Saturday, looking to claim a top four spot, but knowing it will not be an easy task against a side who just had the better of them in their earlier encounter. The Second XI play Shirehampton on Saturday and the Third XI have a home fixture against Keynsham on the same day. On Sunday, the Seconds play Bath Exiles at Withies Lane.