STANDING in for hip injury victim Ian Rawlings, skipper Adam Moore won the toss and inserted Midsomer Norton in overcast conditions. Martin Cox (5) was the first to go, plumb lbw to give 17 year-old Nick Crane his first league wicket with the score on 11.

Moore caused Nick Pang (1) to glove a short-pitched delivery through to keeper Sam Bracey.

Norton opener, James Harvey, 17, and Jason Maule took the score to 64 before Maule (9) was snapped up by Keith Ford in the slips off the bowling of Glyn Howell.

Harvey, who has had a few near misses early in his innings, started to flourish and reached his half-century from 70 balls.

It took a very sharp catch from Ford to snaffle a cut shot from captain Nick Potter (15) to bring the 47-run partnership to an end with the score on 111.

Tom Webb (4) headed back to the pavilion having miscued a pull off spinner Rich Foot, the skier caught by Bracey.

At 118-5, Winterbourne were doing well, however, they let things slip in the last quarter of the innings.

Harvey eventually perished for a commendable 71 to a splendid one-handed running catch from Moore at extra cover.

Andy Cox and Toby Marsh’s stand of 49 gave the visitors a good total to defend, Cox going for 41 from 43 balls to a deep mid-wicket catch by Steve Paul.

Marsh ended on 37 not out, assisted by a run-a-ball 13 from Chris Hampshire.

For the bowlers, the previous week’s seven wicket hero Moore was curtailed by an earlier knee injury and it is hoped he will be fit to continue the campaign having already taken 30 wickets this season.

Rich Foot took 4-60 with fellow left arm spinner Glyn Howell conceding only 40 runs from his 15 overs.

Winterbourne were not able to attempt a reply as the heavens opened and, in consultation with the umpires, the captains called it a day at 5:50pm.

Their next opponents are Ashcott & Shapwick. The game earlier in the season ended being abandoned one ball short of 30 overs due to rain and hail.

WEPL Bristol & Somerset Division 2nd XI Midsomer Norton II (236-4) v Winterbourne Match abandoned

Chris Tabb struck an unbeaten 136 for Norton at Withies Lane but it was the weather that had the final say.

Supported by Iain Morrison with 60, the hosts posted 236-4 with one ball remaining of their 45-over innings, when the players were forced off by the rain.

Phil Purnell had returned figures of 2-49 from his quota of overs, with Matt Crane and Chris Kay picking up a wicket apiece.

A reply was not possible from the visitors due to rain, with the game abandoned.

Adams Exhibitions Ltd Bristol & District Second XI League Division Three Winterbourne ‘A’ XI (280-4 dec)v Alveston II (63-1) Match abandoned

A sparkling knock of 102 not out from under-15 player George Ford, including 16 fours and a six, was the highlight of the Winterbourne’s innings against Alveston.

He was ably supported by his fellow opener Alex Heath, who struck 46, and Nigel Muston weighed in with 64.

After Alveston skipper Paul Ferragut elected to field, Winterbourne’s openers raced away, scoring at nearly ten an over until Ferragut`s slower ball accounted for Heath on 46.

The carnage continued as Muston blasted 64 before being caught and bowled by Mark Garbacz.

Alveston then claimed more wickets through Billy Plummer and a second for Mark Garbacz before Ford, 15, completed an outstanding chanceless century.

The hosts racked up 280-4 in 33.1 overs, and, bearing in mind the weather forecast, skipper Steve Wilkins declared in an attempt to seek a result.

The early loss of Steve Peglar for 0 meant that Billy Plummer joined Andy Plummer (32*) at the wicket.

After a shaky start against some sharp bowling from Oakes, he struck a stylish 20 not out sharing an unbroken 49 partnership with his father.

With rain falling steadily the game was abandoned at tea with Alveston 63-1 in pursuit of an unlikely 281 to win.

Winterbourne are away to Stoke Bishop II this Saturday.

Bristol & District ‘A’ XI League - Division II - Bradley Stoke III (71-2) v Winterbourne ‘B’ XI (288-7) Match Abandoned

Andy Blowers clubbed an unbeaten 124 at Bradley Stoke only for the game to fall foul of the weather.

Crashing 108 in boundaries, the 21-year-old despatched the ball to all parts, mercilessly punishing the home attack with 18 fours and six sixes.

Under-15 Greg White posted a creditable 45 in the B’s total of 288-7 in 45 overs.

Bradley Stoke’s innings reached 71-2 from 14 overs before the players called it a day, Lewis Wentland having made 40.

Winterbourne travel to second placed Whitchurch IV for a top-of-the-table clash this Saturday.