IN their final game of the season, Frome 2nd Xl secured third place in the table and a probable promotion courtesy of their thumping 143 run victory over Huish & Langport at Fromefield on Saturday 2nd September.
With the 1st Xl already promoted back into WEPL, Frome 2nd Xl knew that victory would secure a club double and on winning the toss on a beautiful afternoon, Frome skipper Sam Wheeler elected to bat first.
Openers Tim Leonard and Josh Cantrell built a solid foundation, putting on 39 runs for the opening wicket in eleven overs when Leonard was behind for 18.
This brought Daniel Dredge to the crease on his return from injury and despite giving a difficult chance prior to scoring, he and Cantrell took the score past the century mark when Cantrell chased a wide delivery and was caught for 43.
Dredge went on to hit 82 before giving a caught and bowled and aided by Ryan Gullock and Andrew Stonell who both hit 40, Frome were able to post an imposing total of 254 for 6 from their 45 overs.
In reply, the visitors took the total to 10 runs when Craig Dredge picked up two wickets in his second over having Jones caught at mid on by Fred Barton and two balls later dismissing Jenkinson, caught behind by wicket-keeper Clive Copp.
There was no impetus in the visitors’ batting and the score crept to 38 runs in the sixteenth over, when Sam Wheeler had fellow opener Brister caught by Craig Dredge for 7.
Clive Hamblin bowled his usual miserly spell of nine overs at a cost of just twelve runs but also picked up three wickets, taking his season’s tally to 31 wickets, as the visitors were reduced to 64 for 6 after twenty seven overs.
With left arm spinner Ryan Gullock and medium pacer Fred Barton being introduced into the attack and picking up two wickets apiece, Huish & Langport were 91 all out in the thirty fifth over, to give Frome a maximum points victory and hopefully a promotion to Division 2 for the 2018 season.
