FROME Cricket Club is celebrating one of its most successful seasons ever – topping the league and winning the Somerset Cricket Board Major cup.
Frome secured victory in the West of England Premier Somerset League at the weekend, with a resounding win over local rivals Street. Their win came just a week after they beat North Perrott to win the Somerset Cricket Board Major Cup.
Frome Cricket Club ran out winners in the 2019 Somerset Cricket Board Major cup on Sunday 4th August as they defeated North Perrott at the Cooper Associates county ground in Taunton.
The Major cup is open to all Somerset teams who play in the West of England Premier League, with Frome overcoming Timsbury, Lansdown, an epic victory over Bath in the quarter-finals and a semi-final win over Congresbury on the journey to Sunday’s final day at Taunton.
A strong travelling contingent left Frome on Sunday morning knowing it would be a tough task to overcome higher league opposition in North Perrot who pipped Frome to the league title last season.
With Perrott winning the toss and electing to bat, Frome got off to an excellent start, with captain Reece Croker dismissing Perrott’s opening batsman Retter with the 2nd ball of the day, sending the stumps cartwheeling over the Taunton turf, to a great roar from the travelling fans.
This set the tone for the next few overs as excellent bowling from Croker and Barton had Perrott in trouble at 28-5. Perrot rebuilt through an excellent 42 not out from Roswell and 16 from Dicker, who was excellently stumped by Smith down the leg side off M Watts, but the damage had been done by Frome, with Perrott finishing on 110-8 from their 20 overs. Wickets were shared around with 2 for R Croker, 2 for Barton, 2 for Watts and 1 for N Dredge and a run out.
In reply, Lewis got Frome off to a quick start with a couple of boundaries before being adjudged harshly LBW to Hawes, which brought in captain Reece Croker. His innings proved to be the key as excellent running with Sanger and some hard hitting pushed Frome towards the target. P Sanger fell caught behind for 9, leaving Frome on 36-2. This brought Sam Croker to the crease and together rotated the strike well and finding the boundary before Sam fell stumped off the excellent bowling of Retter with the score on 61.
However there was to be no further alarms for Frome as Croker and Veal comfortably saw Frome to the victory target of 111 in the 18th over, sparking wild celebrations in the stands for the travelling support.
It was a great day for the club as they lifted the cup for the first time since 1975 and an unbelievable journey to Taunton, defeating higher league opposition in three of the five matches en route to Sunday’s victory.
This was the first part of an historic league and cup double while the 2nd XI is also pushing for promotion to the Somerset Cricket League Premier division.
The club say, “We run three senior Saturday sides with the 3rd XI a pathway for youth and female players into senior league cricket, along with a ladies side and four youth age groups, so come and join us! We are always looking for new players of all abilities to bolster our playing squads at all levels and gender.”
Contact the club on 465382 or email frome cricketclub@sky.com or just pop in on match days.
