OPENER Harry Clarke hit an unbeaten half-century as Norton Lindsey and Wolverton CC beat Exhall and Wixford by five wickets in a top-of-the-table clash.
Clarke faced more than 100 deliveries as he held the Norton innings together while Tom Wilcox also scored a half-century for the home side at Wolverton Road.
Norton reached the required target with five wickets in hand in 43.3 overs after leaders Exhall could only manage 181-9 at the end of their 45 overs.
The result means Norton sit second in the Cotswold Hills League First Division table, 20 points behind leaders Exhall.
Exhall won the toss and elected to bat as openers Craig Atherton (33) and Julian Morris (11) put on 56 runs for the first wicket.
However, Matifadza Mafuwa (3-49) broke up the partnership as a flurry of wickets saw Exhall slip to 70-3.
The league leaders recovered courtesy of Alexander Brown (64) but an impressive spell from Simba Mudimu (3-18) halted the away side’s momentum.
Olly Watson (1-28) took the crucial wicket of Brown while Andrew Dellow (1-12) and Matthew Edwards (1-40) also claimed scalps.
Another spree of wickets at the end of Exhall’s innings saw the visitors close on 181-9 at the end of their innings.
Norton lost opener Dan Fell (9) early in their reply before Mudimu (13) and Dellow (0) fell in quick succession to leave the home side on 50-3.
However, Clarke (67 not out) and Wilcox (68) combined for a 112-run fourth-wicket stand as both batters recorded half-centuries.
Wilcox scored at a rate of a run-a-ball while 26 extras aided Norton’s push towards the required total.
Clarke and Mark Reading (3 not out) eventually guided the home side to victory in the penultimate over with five wickets to spare.
Norton’s second XI also triumphed in a dominant nine-wicket win away at Rowington.
The visitors bowled Rowington out for just 104 in 36.2 overs as no home batter reached the 20-run mark.
A scintillating spell from Steve Dellow (6-18) saw Norton rip through Rowington’s middle order as only four home players managed double figures.
And Norton made light work of the reply as openers Joe Williamson (44) and Richard Monk (34 not out) put on 71 runs for the first wicket.
Despite losing Williamson to the bowling of Jack Powell (1-23), Malcolm Henchley (19 not out) scored quick runs to secure victory for Norton in 24.4 overs with nine wickets in hand.
Norton are next in action against Long Itchington on Saturday, June 20 with play to begin at 12.30pm at Whitehall Farm.
