Having had a bright pre-season Frome First XI went into the opening league game full of hope and expectation. However it was Winscombe who gained the early advantage in winning the toss and inserting Frome on a very damp looking track.
Openers Paul Sanger and Andrew Stonell started the innings patiently, and the Winscombe bowlers were wayward and the extras soon started to get the scoreboard going, allowing Frome’s batsman to settle.
However it was the introduction of spin that saw the first breakthrough, as Sanger was bowled from a ball that turned and bounced. This brought to the crease Alex Bleakley back for his second season at the club and it did not take him long to get the board ticking; he and Stonellwere superb.
Bleakley passed 50 first and Stonell followed shortly afterwards, and Frome were now well set to launch an attack. Bleakley took no prisoners as he smashed his way to other Frome century. When Stonell was finally out for a very well played 61, this brought David Dredge to the game making his first appearance for the club in 4 years. With Frome now having passed 225 – gaining maximum batting points in the process – a declaration was on the cards to potentially steal two bonus points.
And this is exactly what happened as bleakely smashed his way to 169 not out leaving Frome 307-2 declared inside 45 overs.
Winscombe’s innings got off to a terrible start with Eddy Neal picking up a wicket in his first over, however the away side did put together a second wicket partnership and took the score 81 for 1 before Frome’s spin duo Clive Hamblin and Mark Sanger were introduced. The Frome spinners quickly changed the game and Wincombe were now starring down the barrel of a heavy defeat at 127 for 6. David Dredge was introduced to quickly finish a very professional performance from the Frome team mopping up the tail, bowling Winscombe out for 147 and giving Frome victory by 160 runs.
Frome will be looking to build on this ideal start when they travel to North Petherton on Saturday.
Frome 2nd XI
Sunny Skies welcomed the new league season as Frome seconds travelled to Horrington in their opening league encounter of the season.
After winning the toss, Frome asked the hosts to bat first on a damp wicket, Frome almost made the perfect start with Prince finding the edge second ball but Larder couldn’t hold on and the chance was missed. Scoring proved hard to come by as Prince and Watts bowled good spells. Wickets tumbled regularly as Frome dismissed the hosts for 128. Cantrell finished with four wickets, Prince 3 and Watts with 2 were the wicket takers for Frome.
After tea, Frome got off to a poor start losing Leonard in the first over, Larder and Cantrell rebuilt the innings taking the score to 45 before Larder was trapped LBW for 12. Unfortunately wickets tumbled regularly as Frome could only muster 98 in reply. Cantrell top scoring with 25.
Frome will look or an improved performance and to bounce back when they host Broadway & Horton at Fromefield on Saturday at 2pm.
