Frome 1st XI beat Ilminster 1st XI by 8 wickets. Frome 1st XI: 169-2 (27.3 overs). Ilminster 1st XI: 167-5 (30 overs)
PAUL Sanger and Reece Croker scored half-centuries on a wet afternoon at Fromefield as Frome remain unbeaten in the 2021 campaign.
The match was delayed due to the heavy overnight rain and eventually reduced to 30 overs a side. Having won the toss and decided to bowl, Frome were hoping for early wickets. However Vickery and Hayward batted well and survived a tricky start until Barton dismissed Hayward with the score on 25. Vickery was joined by Boyce who adjusted to the conditions quickly and together put the Frome bowlers under pressure.
The Vickery and Boyce partnership was finally broken was finally broken when Boyce was dismissed by Harman for 62, ending a partnership of 102. Vickery soon followed Boyce to 50 before also being dismissed by Harman as Frome looked to end the innings strongly and drag themselves back into the game.
The Ilminster innings came to a close with the score on 167-5, Arthur Harman was the pick of the bowlers picking up 4 wickets in his six overs, however Frome knew they would need to bat extremely well to get the victory.
In reply, the Frome openers Lett and Sanger started quickly, with partnership that was broken in the sixth over with the score on 32 when Lett was caught. Sanger and Sam Croker kept the score board ticking and brought up their 50 partnership with no trouble.
Sanger scored is second fifty in as many games before we was bowled by Thompson for an impressive 51. This brought Reece Croker to the crease to join his younger brother as they looked to chase the Ilminster total down.
Together they timed the run chase perfectly with a combination of power and excellent running. Ilminster had their chances to remove both, with a missed run out opportunity and a dropped catch, however Reece Croker brought up his 50 and hit three sixes in a row to take Frome home with 15 balls to spare. Sam Croker supported his brother superbly remaining unbeaten on 34 as Frome remain top of Premier 2.
Next fixture: Saturday 15th May, Bristol 1st XI (away), 12.30pm start
