A COUPLE of match winning performances with bat and ball steered Frome to a crucial victory in a battle at the top of the division.
Having won all five matches so far, Uphill won the toss and decided to bowl first, looking to put Frome on the back foot by taking early wickets, however this wasn’t to be the case.
The away side got off to the perfect start with both openers Paul Sanger and Robin Lett getting off to a good start. It could have been a different story with both being let off by the home side’s fielders.
The pair took their partnership past 100 with Lett reaching his 50. Shortly before drinks, Sanger was bowled for 35 and finally the league leaders had the breakthrough they were desperate for.
Reece Croker joined Lett and the pair carried on scoring well and putting the home bowlers under pressure. A turning point in the innings was when Lett fell agonisingly short of his second three figure score of the season when Miles-Win got him well caught by Llewellyn for a well made 98 and left Frome 181-2.
This wicket created a collapse from the away side and Uphill swung momentum their way, taking the next 6 wickets for just 42 runs, including the dangerous Croker for 39.
Barton was joined by Captain Mark Sanger who had a job on their hands to fight back at the hosts and they done just that. A partnership of 35 for the 9th wicket got Frome to a respectable 248-8 from their 45 overs.
In response Uphill Castle started well getting to 34 before the fall of the first wicket when Barton, this time with the ball, dismissed Winn for 7.
It was the introduction of Mark Sanger which changed the course of the game. Sanger created problems for the top order and dismissed both Chapman and Miles-Win to leave the home side 62-3.
It was Lett this time with the ball who picked up the next wicket when he removed T. Llewellyn but it was Sanger again who produced a moment of magic, with a sharp one handed grab low to his right off his own bowling to get Bliss for 0 which left Uphill in real trouble at 88-6.
The hosts continued to come at Frome and were determined to not let the game go without a fight. Phillips and Jones launched an attack which was ended once again by Sanger who finished his spell with 4 wickets for just 25 runs.
Phillips continued to attack and was finally dismissed with a fantastic yorker from Croker to bowl Phillips for 48 and with that, the game was all but done.
Gadd put on a late show for the leaders, taking 18 off an over before being bowled by Barton for 26, to wrap up a hard fought victory against a very good Uphill Castle side and end their unbeaten start.
Next week Frome host Street looking to build on this result and continue to put pressure on Uphill as they look to chase them down at the top of the table, the match will begin at 1.30pm.
