Archived Match Report
Second XI vs. Avoncroft - 11 Jun - Losing draw after Frome collapse
After a heavy downpour an hour before the start of play captain Badger won the toss and asked Avoncroft to bat first.
Opening the bowling was Child and Hughes for Frome, and Child bowled a tight opening spell again, and is fast becoming one the most economical bowlers in the club. He was unlucky not to pick up a wicket or two and Finished 0 for 25. Hughes at the other struck 4 times in his opening spell, leaving the opposition 54 for 5 when N. Andrews (4 for 38) began taking wickets at the other end. A good middle order partnership for Avoncroft saw them improve their position where one batsman with a baseball like swing put a few balls over the fence. But this display was bought to an end when Andrews, called for wide in the previous over attracting raised eyebrows and hands on hips, clean bowled him. After some tidy fielding and catching from B. Shimwell, a couple of athletic catches from Hughes and a wicket from L. Cottrell the target being set seemed more than manageable. However, Frome let the last wicket accumulate runs again and they put on 30-ish more runs before before Hughes wrapped things up with the first ball of his second spell after a neat catch from J. Godsall keeping wicket (4 byes), finishing with career best 5 for 19. Frome Needing 162 for victory.
Captain Badger found a new opening partner this week in M. Godsall to replace the "feeling under the weather" Hughes, and after last weeks heroics with the bat he was keen to kick on. So after assembling his family on the boundary line, presumably to watch for themselves the stories of lofty cover drives, fierce cuts and crashing boundaries that have reverberated around the Richards family for the past 7 days. Both men Strode to the crease and made a steady start, unfortunately Badger was out for 2 and the family went home without the need to unpack their home made banners. Godsall at the other end however remained steady and rock like. Next to the crease was overseas player from Manchester N. Frost, and being from Manchester thought it was only right that he played the match in a pair on tracksuit bottoms (white). He hit a 4 driving through mid off and an unknown amount of singles until he was caught for 7. Ben Child came to the crease full of his usual confidence and played very well for 27. Which saw S. Andrews, who the Frome now expects runs from scored a nice 42. Then came the collapse with N. Andrews, Hughes, M. Godsall (who was still there, I told you he was rock like. Departing for 35), C.Cottrell and B. Shimwell all departing without much space between. Frome left it to J. Godsall and L.Cottrell to limp Frome up a total of 150 and survive for the points in the losing draw.
In the end it could of been better (win) but it could of been worse (lose), just need to find the winning formula again.
