Williams' devastating bowling spell skittles Norton (From Stroud News and Journal)

Williams' devastating bowling spell skittles Norton

West of England Premier League Two Stroud 1st XI v Midsomer Norton 1st XI

BRETT Williams produced one of the most devastating pieces of bowling that most of the Stroud side had ever witnessed in the first over of the day to finish the game before it had even begun.

Having lost the toss and been asked to field, Stroud's primary concern was to restrict Norton on a placid pitch to give their fragile batting an outside chance of chasing an achievable total.

Williams obviously had no intention of spending 50 overs in the heat and his first ball, whilst quick, swung late and passed down the leg side.

A quick adjustment saw his second ball bowl Glynn off his pads to leave Norton at 0-1.

Daymond strode to the wicket and promptly walked back again as Williams ripped the ball thorugh and bowled him to leave Norton at 0-2.

Gibson arrived on the hat-trick ball, and Williams completed his all bowled hat-trick in the first over by shattering the off stump.

The score of 0-3 off one over became 0-5 off three overs as Haines got in on the act with a wicket maiden of his own, followed by another wicket maiden from Williams.

The game was all but over with only Bunyan batting sensibly to reach 26, as Haines claimed a further wicket to a catch by Cox in the Gully, and Skinner bowled a tight spell to claim two wickets and Williams returned to mop up the tail and give O'Brien his third catch of the afternoon as Norton staggered to 65 all out.

For once Stroud's batting showed no signs of panic as Pocket (29) and Terrington (16) calmly took the score to 54 before Terrington was run out as a result of a direct hit from the boundary, and Pockett mis-time a pull to square leg, however Cook and Skinner eased Stroud home to an amazing eight wicket Victory.

The Stroud bowling figures were: B Williams 6-23 G Haines 2-9 J Skinner 2-13.

With League status now confirmed for next season skipper Daniels was naturally delighted and felt quite rightly that a little more application in the batting department to compliment the amazing bowling and fielding performances would have made Stroud's mid-table position considerably higher.