Download May 31st v Evenley

I entirely accept that it has been very wet, indeed a match at Greens Norton would have been a
problem but the toss was all important in this weeks trip to Evenley, the lovely village green was not
immune to the rain and the wicket was very wet. The toss was eventful with the first effort landing
on the edge in the wet ground, second attempt Norton won and put Evenley in to bat.
The wicket was slow and difficult and this made the first wicket all the more surprising, veteran
Walker had a real slog in Jenkin’s first over and was well caught at mid on for none. With Bowmer
keeping it tight at one end (7 overs for 4 runs) Jenkin (3-11) managed to elicit errors at the other end
including a comedy run out – ball plugged in the outfield and confusion reigned - at 17-4 after 14
overs Evenley were in great trouble and becalmed.
The bowling changes brought more chaos with Linford, who had held out through the opening burst
for a well crafted 4, fell to a full toss from spinner Wallis. Evenley tried to fight back, Bellingham (14)
and Fox (8) played a couple of mighty blows but fell in turn to the whiles of Taylor (3-22) and Wallis
(3-11) and great Norton catching in the outfield, Evenley collapsing to 50 all out after only 24 overs.
Norton went out to bat before tea with the idea that there was plenty of time but that the wicket
was always going to be difficult. So of course Norton lost a wicket in the first over with Jenkin gloving
one that bounced to the keeper for 0. Bodily came in with the confidence of two 50’s in a row
behind him and looked comfortable immediately even against the pace and bounce of Peyton-Bruhl
(0-11) a first team bowler returning from injury.
Scoring was still slow of course and 12 off 8 overs was only marginally better than the opposition.
Bodily went for 9 to a marginal LBW to the left arm over bowling of Scott, Taylor came in with some
shots and 20-2 off 10 everything seemed in control. Another LBW from the left armer saw the end of
Taylor for 9 and 27-3 at tea was half way to the target.
After tea Norton in the guise of Baker and Horley moved confidently on and at 47-3 with 16 overs
remaining Norton were within 1 shot of victory. At this point Baker, who had batted patiently for 24
overs for 11, tried to finish it in one shot and fell to Scott - followed in the same over by both Horley
(10) and Piercey (0) to make the remaining batsmen nervous and running for their pads.
48-6 was still only one shot from victory though and Wallis (1 no) and Blundell edged forward until
Blundell (5 no) managed to bludgeon Scott (5-18) to the boundary for a victory, still comfortable but
not as easy as it should have been, a difficult wicket, great Norton catching and the toss the
dominant features of the day. Norton still at the top of the table, unbeaten after 5 fixtures (only 3
games though).