WEMBDON RUE CANTRELL AGAIN AS 2ND XI GET BACK ON TRACK

The coin toss was won by the hosts, of whom elected to bat first. They got off to a slow start though, with Matthew Knight and Aaron Woodruff bowling the opening 14 overs between them for just 29 runs.

The opening breakthrough came just before that when R Hayward (5) played across the line to top edge to Mark Harman at gully of Woodruff.

The introduction of Clive Hamblin only made matters more difficult for the hosts, as the experienced off-spinner went for a miserly 12 runs from his nine overs.

Skipper Craig Dredge (2-33) claimed the next wicket when an edge flew to Josh Cantrell at third man; J Prior out for 23. Hamblin (1-12) then pinned W Anning leg before for 3, before Dredge accounted for B Stone (7) with a superb caught and bowled.

This reduced Wembdon to 60-4 at the end of the 28th over.

However, despite the steady scoring rate, it allowed the home side to ensure that wickets didn't fall in clusters. 76 runs were added for the fifth wicket, as A Rees and E Howes batted with care. Both Arthur and Mark Harman ensured that the flow of runs didn't get out of hands.

Some late wickets came for Frome in the final few overs though. Woodruff first bowled Howes for 35, before sharp work between Craig Dredge and keeper Clive Copp saw L Gilbert run out for 2.

There was time for one more wicket when Mark Harman took a catch at mid-wicket to ensure the seventh wicket to fall. Woodruff ended with 3-22 from nine overs.

Wembdon ultimately concluded their 45 overs on 148-7, a score which looked somewhat below par with a fast paced outfield. A Rees ended unbeaten on 52.

In response, Frome looked to get going so that they didn't get bogged down. Woodruff scored three successive fours before he was bowled by P Gliddon for a quick-fire 15.

Gliddon (2-34) then accounted for Lee Dredge next ball though, leaving Frome 22-2 from four overs.

Jim Unwin and opener Cantrell batted sensibly though, and Unwin got going with a brace of sweetly struck boundary fours. In the 15th over though, Unwin picked out A Rees to depart for 20 with the score on 67.

From there on though, it was plain-sailing for Frome. Cantrell continued to bat on and batted throughout the innings to end not out, along with the assured Clive Hamblin.

Some textbook shots were played by the classy Hamblin, whilst Cantrell's 60 not out means that he is averaging 162 against Wembdon this year, following his memorable 102 against the side at Fromefield earlier on in the season.

Frome took 32 points from this match (3 short of maximum due to Wembdon losing only 7 wickets), and they mean that the Showmen are still in good shape to finish top of the pile in Somerset Cricket League Division 4- despite falling 2 points behind Broadway and Horton.

Next week, Frome 2nd XI will be looking to build upon this win when they travel to Ilton next Saturday, the 6th August.