Midsomer Norton CC 1st XI (202–5) Winterbourne CC 1st XI (176)

With one final ball speared into the pads, the job was done. Midsomer Norton won the West of England Premier Cricket League’s Bristol and North Somerset division in dramatic fashion at Withies Lane on Saturday, leapfrogging Winterbourne with a polished performance in a 26-run victory. As Norton’s main strike weapon, Andy Cox, fired his final ball past the bat of Winterbourne tailender, Glyn Howell and the umpire’s finger slowly lifted, he dropped to his knees in delirium. A crowd of about 200 erupted on the boundary. Norton players sprinted to embrace each other. Winterbourne were left distraught, having been league leaders for much of the season. Their promotion hopes were dashed.

The two standout sides all season, Norton and Winterbourne had looked set for a season-defining showdown since June. Both sides had minor slip-ups. Norton lost a game they shouldn’t have against Brislington, while Winterbourne had a poor patch after their loss to Norton in the first half of the year. But for the most part, both sides were ruthless in racking up a string of victories.

Winterbourne took a thirteen point lead into the final game, enough to give them the league title if they racked up enough bonus points even in defeat. Norton knew they had to win by a decent margin to overcome the points difference and gain promotion.

Sent in on the best Withies Lane wicket of the season, Norton made a fine start, as Captain, Nick Pang, blasted the ball to all parts. Pang sent sixes into orbit, throwing Winterbourne’s bowlers off their game, with his constant movement around the crease and willingness to go up and over the field. Opening partner, Martin Cox, took more time to get going, but capitalised himself on some loose bowling in more conventional fashion, piercing the field. Pang fell LBW to Harry Blackwell after belting 54 from 40 balls, including seven fours and three sixes, with the score on 83. Martin Cox continued as Norton’s anchor, ticking the strike over regularly as the scoring got tougher with the field out.

Dan Nolan (27) provided the best support as Norton’s score went past 175. Martin Cox fell soon after for 63 from 92 balls, just as things started to get tense on the sidelines. Calculating the points required to win the league, Pang decided to declare before the 45 over mark, securing Norton two bonus points should they win the game. Andy Cox and Dean Clifton edged the score past 200 to secure a fourth batting bonus point, and because only five wickets had fallen, Winterbourne were in a situation where only a win would give them the league title. A close loss would no longer be enough for the visitors.

Winterbourne had scored runs for fun all season, but Norton had the best bowling attack in the league. It made for a tense battle after the tea interval. Andy Cox made sure it started in the right way for the home side, producing the ball of the summer to dismiss Winterbourne opener, Ben Slade. Two balls after Slade had punched an on-drive down the ground for four, Andy Cox hit a length and saw the ball do just enough to evade the bat and nip the top of the off stump. That brought former first class player and England fielding coach, Chris Taylor, to the crease, but Nick Potter accounted for him soon after. With a ball swinging away, Taylor shouldered arms, but the ball seamed back sharply and rapped him on the pads, handing Potter a key LBW decision. Richard Trotman counter-attacked from the start as he came to the crease, striking his first ball through cover for four.

Soon Winterbourne were 50–2, and back on track in their chase as opener, Chris Kislingbury, played the anchor role. Potter again broke the partnership, removing Trotman for 32 with a sharp caught and bowled chance. Sam Bracey was the next to arrive for Winterbourne, another classy batsman in a stacked batting line-up. He looked impressive as the score neared 90, but fell to a loose attempt to cut Chris Hampshire, edging to keeper, Jon Harvey.

From then on, it was Norton’s day. They had to battle as Winterbourne fought hard, but wickets fell steadily. Kislingbury was bowled by Pang, Potter claimed a third wicket and Martin Cox was in on the act with a tickle behind to Harvey. Another strong partnership was ended when Nick Cox ran out Harry Blackwell with a direct hit from mid-off.

Winterbourne rallied one last time, moving from 139–9 to 176 as George Ford and Howell combined in the dying overs. But when Andy Cox was brought back for his final spell, he ended the season just as he started it, taking a key wicket to win the game. So Midsomer Norton finished three points above Winterbourne following their win, and will head into the Premier Two Bristol and Somerset Division in 2018.

The following day, Norton’s Sunday XI won the North Somerset Cricket League Sunday Conference Division One in slightly less dramatic fashion following a washout at Withies Lane. Without a ball being bowled, the Sunday side were confirmed as champions and cannot be overhauled at the top of the table.

The team have one last fixture at Withies Lane on Sunday when they take on Easton Cowboys, starting at 1.30 p.m. This Saturday, also at Withies Lane, starting at 1 p.m., a Jim Eyles XI takes on a Norton Methodists XI. Charlie Matthews