Falcons Falter As Timsbury Edge Frome Opener

After winning the toss, the Falcons opted to have a bat. The team got going when Noah Millard scored the first boundary with a fluent cut shot to the point boundary.

But when Joe Smart (5) hauled out to deep wide long-on, the team slipped to 30-3 when both Millard (12) and Jake Barrow (4) departed also.

However, Charlie Rustell and Taylor Angell stopped the slide- as these batsmen added 65 for the fourth wicket, batting sensibly whilst putting away the bad balls.

Angell was eventually bowled by a ball that stopped in the pitch for a solid 27 (from 29 balls, including 3 fours and a six) of which then saw both George Patterson and Aaron Woodruff depart without scoring- thus making the score 96-6.

The team managed to muster another 24 runs though, and Rustell's fantastic innings came to an end with the score on 110. His innings of 37 runs came off 26 balls and included 6 fours.

Arthur Harman (10) added some crucial late runs before he and the runs of the Frome batsmen bar Ethan Cox (2 not out) were out to leave the Falcons bowled out for 120 off 19.2 overs. Five Timsbury bowlers ended with 2 wickets apiece.

In response, Frome knew that had to keep things tight to stand any chance of defending the run a ball total.

It started off well for the Falcons as skipper Woodruff opened with an over going for just one run, before Sonny Burbidge made the breakthrough by bowling James Rawlings for a duck.

Frome kept on squeezing the scoreboard but Owen Knight's three sixes kept them up with the rate.

Excellent work from 15 year-old Charlie Rustell removed Knight for 25 though off Woodruff, to make the score 71-2 after 12 overs and Frome were still in the match.

The match continued to remain in the balance, as Timsbury never accelerated- and when Ethan Cox bowled a terrific 16th over for a meager four runs- the run rate began to rise.

Then, Joe Smart built pressure from the Pavilion End, and had skipper Sol Thompson haul out to Angell at long-on- who took a great catch. The situation now left 23 runs required of three overs.

Just as it looked like the Falcons were turning the tide though- the Timsbury batsmen found the boundary. Woodruff (1-15) and Smart (1-17) bowled overs going for 12 and 10 runs respectively- taking the wind out of the home sides sails in the process.

The final run required came off Matt Knight, who too bowled well (3.1 overs for just 12 runs) but it wasn't to be for the Falcons.

Despite defeat, the side needs to pick themselves up quickly if they want to stand a chance to qualify. Their next match is at home to Hinton Hornets on Friday 7th July.

Frome Cricket Club would like to thank the many volunteers that helped this event go ahead, along of course with the terrific crowd that turned out to watch and support the team.

Frome Falcons are again grateful that 2017 sees the continued sponsorship of Payman.

Thanks to the WestWay Co-Operative for donating all the buns for the barbeque.

*Particular thanks to the Watts' who were working hard on the BBQ all evening.
*Scorer Richard Porteous and Umpire Keith Saunders.
*And everyone else that did numerous other voluntary jobs to make a great evening.

Many thanks and we hope to see you all again next week.