1st XI Lose out in tight encounter at Fromefield

Frome 1st XI fell to their first defeat of the season in agonising fashion on Saturday.

Having been restricted to 140-9 and despite a heroic effort by the bowlers to reduce Staplegrove to 79-7 at one stage, they eventually lost by one wicket.

After Frome won the toss for the second week in a row and made the positive decision to bat, openers Paul Sanger and Stonell were watchful against the testing Bishop and Mazarabani.

Stonell was trapped lbw in the sixth over before Bleakley was caught behind soon afterwards, leaving them 19-2.

Sanger soon found his form, striking Bishop to the boundary several times, before David Dredge struck two boundaries off the newly-introduced Read.

However, disaster struck as Sanger was bowled by Read for 27 and Dredge dragged the ball onto his stumps for 13.

With the score at 64-4, Frome had some rebuilding to do, which Smith and Dan Dredge set about doing. Just as they looked to get a partnership together, Dredge was adjudged lbw to a ball which shot along the ground and Lewis was then stumped.

Further wickets fell soon after the score passed 100 as Smith (30) was smartly caught and bowled by Pantling, Neal (7) was bowled and Wheeler (3) was caught at short midwicket.

Only a 29-run last-wicket partnership between Hamblin (6no) and Mark Sanger (21no) – which including a big six from Sanger – got Frome up to 140-9 from their 50 overs.

Frome knew they would have to take early wickets and made their first breakthrough with the score on seven as Pantling edged Neal to the keeper.

It was soon 35-3 as the same bowled trapped the dangerous Sizer lbw before Wheeler dismissed Bishop (21). Both Frome openers were now in full swing and a further Wheeler wicket made it 42-4.

The introduction of Bleakley paid dividends immediately as Reed was smartly caught by Stonell to give Frome a fifth wicket. A small partnership then ensued as Mazarabania and Bird played sensibly but Bleakley dismissed both in quick succession to leave Frome on the brink of victory at 79-7.

However, the wickets dried up as chances did not quite go to hand, appeals were turned down and Staplegrove’s J Pantling and Sutton made batting look more straightforward than anyone else had all game.

Frome rang the bowling changes but could not find the breakthrough until, with the score at 131-7 and the game looking all but over, the returning Neal picked up the scalp of Pantling for an excellent 27.

One run later, Wheeler bowled Sutton to leave Staplegrove eight runs short with just one wicket remaining.

Despite Frome throwing everything at them, including a dropped chance at slip, Staplegrove got themselves over the line.

On Saturday, Frome travel to Bishops Lydeard.