Archived Match Report
Second XI vs. Barnards Green - 18 Jun - Frome take 24 points in a comprehensive victory.
On arrival to the ground with rain in the area, captain Badger had already decided to bat first, and after losing the toss the opposition decided to field first, things look set to go Fromes way.
Richards and Hughes started things off steadily until Richards was caught for 4 and Hughes was run out for 6, Peter Elkington managed to lose the ball in the next field but was out shortly after for 7. This bought the first of three Father/Son batting partnerships with Sean and Neil Andrews until Neil sliced one to get caught for 10. It was then the two youngest members of the team came together with B. Child and S. Andrews, and put on a brilliant middle order partnership to get Frome out of trouble. Both scoring 32 a piece until both were bowled. The rest of the order mustered a few more runs together and used up the over's, but with the exception of S. Andrews and B. Child the batsmen found it difficult on this pitch. Frome managed a respectable 150 off their overs.
The Barnards Green openers, knowing that there was rain in the vicinity seemed to come sprinting out of the blocks. An obvious ploy to get ahead of the run rate should any rain materialise. Captain badger in a very shrewed move spotted the openers plan and quickly changed the bowlers around after B. Child had dismissed one. He turned to the experienced old hats of N. Andrews and P. Elkington who quickly set about the destruction of this batting line up taking 4 wickets a piece, in an inspired piece of bowling. Captain Badger was not shy in taking the credit for this decision and was particularly bouyant after taking a driving catch in the covers. Barnards Green were 9 wickets down at this point for about 90 runs, and with the black clouds swirling above and the rain starting these final batsmen were just leaving and blocking, C. Cottrell was bought on with his precision bowling to make them play every ball, and the last man was trapped LBW, leaving them all out for 99.
Barnards Greens opening batsman who scored 42 of the 99 was dropped at slip in the second over for 0 by a Frome player who shall remain nameless, for now(lets just call him Mr X). Their innings could of taken a different look if this chance was taken. But all joking a side, a good win over a good team, with a good team peformance.
x= Dave Child
