FROME enjoyed a winning start back to life in the West of England Premier League (WEPL) Somerset after their double winning success in 2017.
The 2018 season began in hot conditions, and when Frome won the toss, they had no hesitation in batting first. However, Frome didn’t start off how they would have liked to with some good disciplined bowling from Cox and Brooks. Frome finished their 10 overs of powerplay on 26-1 with the loss of P Sanger (6).
Uphill Castle continued to apply pressure with good bowling and excellent fielding, leaving Frome in some trouble at 60-4. This brought Croker and Smart together, who batted sensibly to stabilise the innings against the opposition’s spin attack of Ward and Bail. Croker (22) eventually held out to long-off to the bowling of Bail with the score on 93, which created a small batting collapse for the hosts and were reduced to 139-8.
Smart and Neil Dredge took the attack to the bowlers with Dredge launching to big sixes, along with excellent innings of Smart, who batted well with the tail. Dredge was eventually bowled by Brooks for 22, however the crucial partnership of 67 with Smart put Frome back in the contest.
Smart was caught in the final over for an unbelievably well-crafted 47 to help his side finish on 189.
In reply Uphill Castle started well, with Belcher (17) and Gadd (15) finding the boundary on a regular basis. However, Croker struck twice and removed both openers with the score on 41. It was the introduction of Neil Dredge that turned the game Frome’s way. He picked up the wicket of Australian Siede (3) in his first over and continued to strike throughout his spell.
Dredge then removed Andy Llewellyn and Tom Llewellyn, putting the opposition on the back for at 55-5. George Cox looked good at the beginning of his innings, however a hamstring injury forced him to retire hurt, which Frome took advantage of, reducing Uphill to 60-9 including a five wicket haul for Dredge (5-17).
Cox was soon back out to bat on one leg following the collapse of his team, where he launched some blows on the Frome bowlers and top scored with 29, but eventually held out in the deep of the bowling of Watts and Uphill Castle were bowled out for just 86.
Next up Frome travel to Yeovil, where they will look to carry on their fine start to the new campaign.
The match was sponsored by Mandy and Colin Dredge.
Report by Mark Sanger
