FORMER Gloucestershire paceman Steve Kirby made a shock debut for Frocester and helped Nick Trainor’s side back to the top of Premier One.

Kirby, now at Somerset, claimed two wickets as visitors Taunton Dean were bowled out for 219 at Pounds Close.

The 36-year-old was then at the non-striker’s end as Frocester sealed victory with a six from Sam Bracey off the last ball to win by four wickets.

Earlier, Trainor won the toss and invited the visitors to bat, a decision which was quickly justified as Josh Dunning and Kirby collected a wicket each, with the score at two for two.

However, Western Australia state player, John Rogers, Jack Leach rebuilt the innings, taking the total to 60-3 before Leach was caught behind off the bowling of Richie Cave. Rogers, who had begun cautiously, now began to play some big shots, and was well supported by Warren (32). However, at 155-3, Warren was bowled by Dunning and the rest of the Taunton Deane batters were unable to resist the Frocester attack.

Rogers claimed a high quality century, eventually bowled by Olly Jones for 111, with the visitors collapsing to 213 all out, as Olly Jones finished with four for 39.

In reply, Frocester were quickly four for one, but Quereshi and O’Doherty, built a solid base for the innings. However, with the total on 86, Quereshi was run out for 36, and with Leach bowling 10 overs for 25 runs, Frocester fell behind the required rate. Louis Gegg led the recovery, and with 66 required from the final six overs.

Gegg smashed three sixes in an energetic 57, caught on the boundary in the 48th over.

This brought Bracey, not in the best of form, to the wicket. A trademark flip shot to fine leg opened his account and with 13 required from the final over, Bracey hit the first two deliveries for six to bring the scores level and then finished the job with another huge six into the adjacent field.