Frome 2nd Xl were knocked off the top of the Somerset Division 2 table following a five wicket loss at local rivals Purnell Cricket Club, after only posting 156 for 9 from their 45 overs.
However, it could have been more comprehensive after electing to bat on a dry wicket with little bounce, wickets fell at regular intervals and they and stood at 104 for 9 before a 52 run unbroken 10th wicket partnership between Andrew Stonell (41 not out) and Clive Copp (12 not out) gave the final total some respectability.
In fact, Frome’s batsmen only hit 98 runs off the bat and were aided by 58 extras which included 43 wides from the home bowlers.
In reply, Purnell got off to a flyer with Dec Redwood particularly aggressive against any full delivery, hitting 51 runs in 10 overs before he was caught at deep mid off by Jonathon Dredge off the bowling of Matt Knight.
Knight was obtaining some pace and soon after he bowled Kev Rogers with the batsman shouldering arms to a ball that came down the slope.
Mark Prince was introduced into the attack for only his second game in four years and along with skipper Clive Hamblin, managed to put some breaks on the scoring rate, bowling sixteen overs between them for just 29 runs and picking up a wicket apiece.
However opener Matt Brooks stood firm and despite losing Phil Gregory, caught by James Unwin off the returning Knight for 17, Frome were never able to get the cluster of wickets that they required to put pressure on the home side.
Purnell reached their target in the 33rd over, with Brooks remaining unbeaten on 33 not out, to push Frome down to fourth in the table, with the home side leapfrogging Frome into second spot.
This Saturday, Frome 2nd Xl travel to Minehead CC, the match commencing at 12.00pm.
