Norton Comprehensively beat Frome

On what was a lovely sunny day at Midsomer Norton, Frome failed to get their first win of the season as they lost by 162 runs.

here was two wickets for Sam Wheeler and Mark Watts which were the best performances for Frome on what can be put down as a 'bad day at the office'.

Midsomer Norton won the toss, and they chose to bat first- a decision which payed dividens.

Ed Neal and Sam Wheeler opened the bowling for the visitors and kept things reletively tight, and the former was unlucky not to get the first breakthrough. A regulation catch at gully from a thick outside edge was put down by the experienced Craig Dredge. Soon after though, Wheeler did get Frome's first wicket. Charlie Smith took a smart catch standing up to the stumps to punish the edge and leave Norton 31-1. Neal began to tire and two balls that strayed down leg were tucked into by the Norton batsmen as they were turned down the leg side for fours. The introduction of Craig Dredge and Mark Watts was good though as Dredge opened up with a maiden whilst Watts got Frome's second wicket, bowling the batsmen in the 18th over. At drinks the score was poised at 89-2, with the hosts ready to accelerate in the second half of the innings.

Frome got a big scalp soon after the break though as skipper Sam Wheeler's throw ran out the Norton overseas star for a duck. However, the innings got motoring soon after as Craig Dredge was launched for a six. A half chance wasn't taken at mid-off by Joe Smart off Watts' bowling before the fourth wicket did come. It was Watts' second wicket as James Unwin took a steepler after an original juggle. As Norton looked to up the run rate, half chances were coming regularly. One fell to Ed Neal, who couldn't catch a slog sweep in the deep as he couldn't come in from the boundary quick enough, and the ball went for four. The ball after a big six that caused minor structural damage to the barbecue area at Norton, Frome then blew a much more straightforward chance. Alan Stonell fumbled what should have been a comfortable catch. Insult to injury was added next ball, as spinner Dave Dredge was being somewhat targeted, as another six was launched. The return of Wheeler to the attack saw Unwin claim his second catch to get the bowler his second wicket. Stonell got a run out after mis-communication saw two Norton batsmen at the same end. Then Unwin misjudged the flight of the ball as he overan a chance that went over his head for four. Norton were 222-6 with the last over of the 40 allocation falling to spinner Dave Dredge. It was a terrific over for the hosts. After a single and two fours, the first of three sixes was sent over long-off. Next, Stonell dropped a second catch off of Dave Dredge's bowling- which was actually parried over the rope for another maximum. Then the finally delivery was cleanly struck to end Norton's innings on 249-6. Wheeler claimed 2-44 and Watts 2-61, whilst three of the home teams batsmen hit fifties. A Lear hit 53, N Pang 65 and N Potter 63 not out.

in reply Frome made a poor start. Dave Dredge was bowled shouldering arms for 2 in the first over. In the sixth over Alan Stonell edged a ball that rose on him and the wicketkeeper duefully dived and took the catch to leave the visitors 22-2. After 11 more runs were added, the dangerous Dan Dredge was trapped in front before Charlie Smith edged to slip with no further addition to the score. Some wayward bowling resulted in many extras added on to the Frome score but they couldn't sustain a partnership for long enough to threaten the Norton score. J Quinn was adjudged LBW after a nicely timed four to leave Frome 59-5. James Unwin and Joe Smart somewhat steadied the ship as they took the onto 76-5 at drinks.

Further wickets fell straight after the refreshments though. Unwin was clean bowled and Smart was given out leg before. Ed Neal got off the mark next ball with a nice shot through the covers which rssulted in three runs. But, Norton's overseas player claimed a stunning caught and bowled when Neal powerfully drove the ball back at him. Next ball, Frome were nine down, as Craig Dredge was bowled next ball, and that gave the Norton overseas bowler his fourth wicket. There was no hat-trick or five for for him though as Watts negotiated the hat-trick ball before the final wicket came from the other end. Wheeler wss LBW to end Frome's innings 87 all out.

This gave Midsomer Norton a clear victory by 162 runs in this friendly match, but it was much needed game time before the season begins in a fortnight nevertheless.