DAN DREDGE DELIVERS AS 2ND'S STAY TOP

After winning the toss and opting to field first, Frome made a fantastic start.

Aaron Woodruff took two wickets with the first two balls of the innings, bowling skipper D Burton and number three R Wike.

J Bellamy took the match to the Frome attack though, blasting eight fours in his knock of 40 off 23 balls. It was Mat Bracher (1-31) that made the key breakthrough, well-caught on the off-side by Clive Hamblin.

The introduction of the experienced duo of Hamblin and captain Mark Harman (1-14) tied Fitzhead down. The latter took a wicket in his first over, having M Burns adjudged leg before for 1.

And when Hamblin (2-17) chipped in with a brace of scalps, bowling C Shapland (8) and J Roberts (7)- Fitzhead were reduced to 73-6 in the 21st over.

However, R Bellringer and D Rottenbury rebuilt for the visitors. They added 68 for the seventh wicket in a stand that brought their team back into the match.

The partnership was broken in the 41st over when superb work from the evergreen Clive Copp gave Woodruff (3-45) his third wicket with a stumping- Bellringer out for 33 off 80 balls.

S Bellringer (10 not out) added a further 34 with Rottenbury (59 not out)- taking Fitzhead up to 175-7 off their 45 over allocation. Frome attained seven bowling points and the visitors got eight batting points.

In response, Frome batted very well to comfortably chase down the total.

Josh Cantrell and Dan Dredge compiled a patient 53 run opening stand to provide a good platform for the innings. The first wicket fell though when Cantrell was trapped LBW for 7 by M Burns.

Lee Dredge continued the good work, and the left hander got off the mark with a delightful checked drive through the off-side for four.

With the score on 89 though, Lee Dredge was caught by S Bellringer off M Burns' (2-30) bowling for 19 off 36 balls.

Dan Dredge was soon passed his fifty though, and now accompanied by Rich Potter, they guided the Showmen across the winning line.

Potter looked assured at the crease and was playing some lovely strokes. Dan Dredge batted watchfully, but was quick to pounce on anything loose from the Fitzhead attack.

Those two had an unbeaten third wicket partnership of 87 to attain the 8 wicket win in the 39th over.

Dan Dredge batted through the innings for 91, of which came off 113 deliveries and included 11 fours. Potter was not out on 36 from 50 balls, with 3 fours.

Frome took 32 points from this match with the maximum batting point win, whilst Fitzhead left Fromefield with 10 points.

Next week, Frome 2nd XI begin the return fixtures. They play Curry Rivel at Fromefield, of which the Showmen were beaten by on the opening day. After being undefeated since though (6 wins and one abandoned), Frome will look the extent the winning streak on Saturday.