Frome 2nd XI beat Weston-Super-Mare 2nd XI by 7 wickets.
Weston-Super-Mare 2nd XI: 160-9 (45 overs).
Frome 2nd XI: 161-3 (27.3 overs)
FROME 2nd XI made it back-to-back wins on Saturday with an excellent all-round display at Weston-Super-Mare.
After showing superb discipline with the ball and in the field, a confident batting display saw the Showmen take home a welcome 34 points and keep pace with the promotion contenders in MSL Somerset Division 2.
On a warm afternoon, the home side won the toss and elected to bat first on a good batting track. Frome hit their straps immediately, led by the returning Nav Asim (2-21) who hit a superb line and length straight away to remove Weston’s openers. An impressive opening burst from Cox was then backed up by Wheeler (2-21) who removed Neave to leave the home side struggling at 37-3.
Weston then rallied thanks to a fine innings from Kearsey, who counter-attacked to great effect and put the pressure back on the visitors. However, all the Frome bowlers showed great discipline in the heat to keep nipping important wickets as partnerships began to threaten.
Furlong (2-21) continued to keep things tight in the latter half of the innings, and when Cox finally removed Kearsey for an excellent 62, the innings was in danger of petering out at 125-8. However, the Weston tail wagged to great effect, with Whittock and Crane boosting the home side to 160-9 at the interval.
In response Pinchen departed early to leave Frome on the back foot; however Unwin (34) counter-attacked well with some thumping boundaries to wrestle the momentum back the Showmen’s way. Opener Furlong also began to find his touch with some crisp drives as the pair combined superbly in an attacking stand of 66.
When Unwin eventually departed, Furlong opened his shoulders and punished the Weston attack – dominating a 3rd wicket stand of 78 with Veal to register an eye-catching first half-century for the club and power Frome towards the finish line. With the end in sight the young opener finally gloved one behind for a classy 78, however Veal sealed a solid 7-wicket victory the following over.
An excellent performance from Frome which sees them reach the halfway stage of the season in third place and right in the promotion hunt.
