CHEDDAR travelled to Street on Saturday in search of a first win of the season after a disappointing start.

CHEDDAR travelled to Street on Saturday in search of a first win of the season after a disappointing start.

Both wishes were duly granted as the weather stayed fair for once and maximum points were taken from an emphatic victory.

Cheddar's new captain Ollie Norris chose to bat first on winning the toss and opened up with himself and Stevie Andrews. Andrews' promotion up the order was a gamble that looked to have paid dividends as he supported his skipper to an opening stand of 68 before being caught for 23.

Norris was dropped to at mid wicket with only a single to his name. No-one could have envisaged just what a pivotal moment of the match this mistake would prove as from here on Norris settled himself and proceeded to compile the innings of his life.

In the company of Friar Sims (34) and Andy Veal (41 not out) Norris passed 50 with a combination of deft singles and flowing boundaries. He had never scored a century for Cheddar before and passed the landmark with another single.

With plenty of runs on the board and wickets in hand, Norris proceeded to dismantle the Street attack. He moved from 100 to the 150 landmark in just 15 scoring shots, as Veal played the supporting role as he and his skipper plundered a third wicket stand of 130.

The last 100 of these runs were scored in just 10 overs, before Norris fell in the penultimate over for 173. His brilliant knock had included 22 boundaries and three sixes as Cheddar closed on a mammoth 290 from their 45 overs.

After tea, it appeared a simple formality for the visitors to gain their first league win of the season. Reduced to 80-6, the game was well and truly over as a contest. Unfortunately, Cheddar lost their intensity and discipline as a fielding outfit. A spirited ninth wicket partnership of 60 added respectability to the Street total as Mike Higgs hit an unbeaten 55.

Nicholls finished as the most successful bowler with 4-49 and there was a wicket on debut from Tom Childs. Cheddar will definitely need to improve in the field with an embarrassing 44 runs gifted to the opposition from wides and no balls.

Nothing could detract from Norris' earlier knock, however, and it was suitably fitting that it was the man of the match who prised out the last Street batsman with his occasional spin to cap a truly remarkable day.