Frome (151-5) beat Glastonbury (150 all out) by five wickets – West of England Premier League, Sat. 4th July

Frome are now right back in touch with the pack at the bottom of the Bristol-Somerset Division after a strong five wicket victory at home to Glastonbury on 4th July. 

After winning the toss and electing to bat first Glastonbury made a solid start. They moved to 27-0 inside six overs, and during the first 15 overs Frome could not make the breakthrough despite rotating the bowling from the hospital end. They eventually picked up a deserved wicket through a smart Neal run out, and Watts picked up a second soon after.

After 20 overs the visitors were 87-2 – Wheeler having finished an economical spell of 10 overs for 21 – and Bleakley replaced him. The change drew an early wicket as Ellison was caught for nine, and two quick wickets for Bleakley after drinks saw Frome seize the initiative and reduce Glastonbury to 115-5.

A strong spell from Watts saw David Dredge introduced and together with Bleakley they put the squeeze on the batsmen. Dredge trapped A.Barron LBW before Bleakley picked up two further wickets to leave the Glastonbury innings in tatters at 139-8.

Bleakley’s final over saw him remove Williams to give him excellent figures of 6-23, before the returning Neal bowled J.Barron to leave Frome chasing 151 to win.

Frome made a poor start when Paul Sanger was trapped LBW second ball, however Bleakley and David Dredge settled any Frome nerves with a strong partnership. Dredge found the boundary with some strong hitting – including three sixes – and the 50 came up inside 11 overs. The pair pressed on, and Dredge brought up his excellent 50 before shortly after chopping onto his stumps for 54.

Gullock joined Bleakley with the score on 73, and the pair were together as the score passed hundred and Frome edged closer to victory. With just 30 needed Frome wobbled slightly when Gullock (18) was caught behind and shortly after Bleakley (36) fell in the same fashion. When Dan Dredge skied a catch to leave Frome 125-5 there was still work for the middle order to do.

But Smart and Quinn stayed calm, weathering a brief Glastonbury storm before several quick boundaries saw Frome seal a deserved five wicket win.