FROME BEATEN DESPITE DREDGE 99

After winning the toss, Frome went after the opening bowlers with a 65 opening stand. Mark Dredge and Aaron Woodruff were timing it nicely and scoring quickly, utilising the flat outfield by finding the boundary on numerous occasions.

The pitch was playing well, and despite Woodruff falling for 20 after nine overs, James Unwin came in and kept up the momentum.

Unwin and Dredge were enjoying themselves playing their shots with confidence. They put on a further 96 for the second wicket, before Dredge was caught at long-off. It was a fantastic innings for Dredge, who just launched a couple sixes, before falling on 99. The innings also included 18 fours on the lightning outfield.

From there, Frome began to lose wickets. 15 runs later, Unwin (36) departed caught being cutting, after he'd dispatched a brace of maximums himself- one over the long boundary and down towards the Co-Op.

The Showmen lost further wickets as the run-rate stalled for a while. Although Joe Smart hit three fours, he departed for 12, before Mark Watts (2) and Arthur Harman (4) followed- making the score 204-6.

Some big hitting from Neil Dredge aided Frome's hopes though. He hit two sixes, with one of them soaring through the clubhouse doors and breaking a clock! With the score on 228, Dredge was caught for 20 soon after a helicopter landed in a nearby field, of which briefly paused proceedings.

Nav Asim was out for a duck, but Joseph Quinn hit a fruitful 32 not out to get Frome up to 247-8 from their 40 overs, Dan Weston (1) was not out aswell. For Biddestone, there were two wickets apiece for A Jaques, G Linde and J Bartlett.

In response, Biddestone got off to a flyer. Although Weston (1-26) bowled well, bowling A Jaques for 12, the visitors raced 72 off of eight overs.

The introduction of Arthur Harman broke the second wicket partnership for 49, when he had L Boulton caught by Neil Dredge. The third wicket came soon after, Watts (1-22) gaining a deserved wicket after some tight bowling- A Evans caught by Woodruff for 22.

Harman (2-30) then doubled his wicket tally when he bowled R Berry for 7, and the Showmen had pegged Biddestone back well, to 106-4.

76 runs were put on for the fifth wicket however in what was a testing partnership for Frome to deal with.

Asim (1-78) made a crucial breakthrough to give Frome hope again though, as a good catch from skipper Quinn removed L Panes for 54.

Momentum was kept up by the visitors though as quality batsmen kept coming to the crease. Neil Dredge (2-40) ensured that the match remained tight, as he first bowled the dangerous R Horn for 41 to make it 217-6.

Unfortunately for Frome, Biddestone were closing in on victory as they paced their innings well.

But, with the scores tied, J Bartlett hauled out to Mark Dredge to give Neil Dredge his second wicket. Then, confusion saw Asim take the eighth wicket with a direct hit in the field after some confusion between the batsmen.

The match was over next ball though as the ball raced down to the third man boundary, giving Biddestone a two wicket win.

Next Sunday, Frome Sunday Development XI play at home again as they play Bishopston at Fromefield.

*Thanks to Dan and Shaun Weston for the match photos.