Saturday 22nd May. Frome 1st XI win by 8 wickets. Bath 2nd XI 96 all out (40.2overs). Frome 1st XI 99-2
(24.3 overs)
Frome spinners Arthur Harman and Mark Sanger led the way with seven wickets between them as Frome bounced back from last week’s disappointment as they returned to winning ways.
After a week of high winds and rain, the Frome groundsman did an amazing job to ensure play could start on time and play a full match for the first time this season.
After being asked to bat first, Bath started well with openers Scrivens and Metcalfe putting together an opening stand of 43. It was the introduction of Watts who created the important breakthrough for Frome, bowling Metcalfe for 11.
Frome then started to turn the game with spinners Harman and Sanger bowling well on favourable conditions. Harman was a constant thorn in the Bath batting line up picking up four wickets from his nine overs. Captain Mark Sanger got the big breakthrough of Scrivens, lbw for 46 leaving the visitors in real trouble at 76-7. Frome bowled Bath out for 96 to pick up maximum bowling points.
In reply Bath seamers bowled well with little luck, however got the breakthrough with the score on 21 when Caddywould removed the in-form Paul Sanger. Will Jenkins joined Sam Croker and batted superbly together to ensure there wasn’t another batting collapse and took Frome close to the finish line with a partnership of 70. Jenkins was caught for 41, giving Bath their first point of the day as Frome eventually got the win by 8 wickets and moved to second in the table and remain unbeaten at home this season.
Next week Frome will want to build on this victory and keep pressure on the top of the table as they travel to Bishopston.
Next fixture: Saturday 29th May, Bishopston 1st XI (away), 12.30pm Start
Frome lose after batting collapse
Bristol 1st XI win by 33 runs. Bristol 1st XI 121 all out (26.3 overs). Frome 1st XI 88 all out (21 overs)
FROME fell to their first defeat of the season after having the game in their hands, only to have a major batting collapse against an over excitable Bristol side.
Having had a third game in a row interrupted by wet conditions, the game was reduced to 30 overs a side and Frome won the toss and elected to field. They got off to a great start with opening bowlers Reece Croker and Tom Barton bowling superbly. Croker got the breakthrough of Trenouth, one of many Bristol players rocking a 80s style mullet, which began a superb bowling display by Frome.
Frome continued to keep the runs at a minimum and wickets were falling regularly with Harman and Watts following on well from the openers, leaving the hosts in trouble at 45-6. It wasn’t until Shaw came to the crease when the runs started to flow as he immediately took the attack to the Frome team, regularly hitting the 35 yard boundary.
Shaw’s 50 came off 30 balls and led the Bristol side to 121. Frome will have been disappointed not to have bowled Bristol out for less after dropping Shaw twice.
In reply, Frome started well as Frome openers Paul Sanger and Robin Lett faced up to a Bristol side knowing little about the spirt of cricket and took on the pace of Rudge and Shaw. The opening batsmen took the score to 44 before Lett was excellently caught by Ellison. This dismissal started a huge batting collapse for Frome which saw the victory slip from their hands.
Bristol bowlers took wickets at a regular stage with Probert taking 4 quick wickets leaving Frome with an uphill battle at 52-5. Unwin and Smith looked to rebuild the innings and together got a partnership of 31 before Bristol got the crucial wicket of Unwin.
Bristol then brought back their Gloucestershire bowler Shaw who carried the Bristol side for most of the day, he took three wickets in one over, bowling Frome out for just 88.
