Perfect start goes on after quick chase

Midsomer Norton continued their perfect start to the 2025 campaign with a third maximum point win in Prem 2 Bristol/Som of the West of England Premier League.

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Hosting Congresbury, Norton were given the ball and did a good job of restricting the runs whilst building up the wickets. There was looking to be an early finish as Congresbury stuttered to 60-6, but they eventually rallied to 158 all out in the 46th over. George Wilcox had taken 4-19, before Paul Robbins rounded the innings off with 4-39. Adam Sylvester accounted for the other two wickets.

The low-looking score was duly punished as Norton raced to victory in 25 overs. Openers Alex Lear (21) and Jake Roberts (40) put on 69 for the opening wicket before the latter was run out.

Lear was trapped lbw immediately after, leaving wicket-keeper Richard Staines (35*) and Bradley Parry (57*) to ease the hosts home. Parry's half-century score came in 49 balls as he hit nine fours and two sixes. Norton now have a 12 point lead at the top after three games.

■TEMPLE CLOUD have followed suit in the Somerset Division, however they are locked at the top with fellow perfect starting side North Perrott.

Hosting winless Wellington, Cloud opted to bat at their new Farmborough home and reached 24 before Andrew Mortimer was bowled for four. Fellow opener Lucas Hales had to provide the anchor as Gary Filer, Reece Croker, Charlie Ward, Charlie Thompson and captain Kevin Curtis all fell for single-figure scores to leave the hosts in a spot of bother at 97-6.

Hales and Cameron Raffan managed to add 32 for the seventh wicket before Hales was finally trapped lbw for 69. That left Raffan (41*) and Dan Nolan (36*) needing to play a patient partnership to see Cloud to 208-7 from their 50 overs, aided somewhat by 37 extras conceded by Wellington.