A GUTSY 74 from Wells opener Dave Stacey, coupled with his earlier four wickets, provided the backbone for Wells’ three wicket victory over Frome 2nd Xl last Saturday, although a few dubious umpiring decisions may have been of benefit also.
Confronted by a damp uncovered wicket at Wells, Frome skipper Sam Wheeler called incorrectly and Frome were asked to take first knock as the wicket dried.
Openers Tim Leonard and Andrew Stonell battled hard, putting on 42 runs in ten overs before Leonard was bowled by Wilshire for 30.
Scott Lewis immediately hit Wiltshire into the high netting for six, but then chased a wide delivery from Dave Stacey, only to lob the ball in the air to extra cover.
Ryan Gullock came and went after trying to run the ball, which on a quick wicket would have been fine, but on this slow wicket only succeeded in playing the ball onto his own stumps.
With Josh Cantrell caught at silly mid on for 2, Frome were in deep trouble at 61 for 4.
Stonell was joined by Sam Wheeler and the pair ensured no further wickets were lost taking the score to 86 in the twenty seventh over, when Stonell also chased a wide delivery from Stacey and fell caught at extra cover for 30.
With Mark Harman and Craig Dredge succumbing to the spin of Jack Moore in quick succession, this soon became 89 for 7.
Wheeler and Arthur Harman brought up the hundred when Harman was caught in the off side ring from a high full toss for 4.
Matt Knight joined Wheeler with ten overs remaining and the pair ran well between the wickets, as well as Knight hitting the bad ball to the boundary including a six over long on, before Wheeler was caught at long on off Vassalli for 31 in the penultimate over, the pair having added 53 runs.
Knight and Clive Copp took the score to 158 but striving to get an extra batting point, Knight was run out on the final delivery of the 45th over.
In reply, Frome looked to restrain the home batsmen and Wells skipper Ben Stacey perished in the 10th over with just 20 runs on the board when he was caught on the mid wicket boundary by Scott Lewis off Craig Dredge.
Five overs later this became 35 for 2 when Mark Harman took a smart diving catch off his own bowling.
