By Eric Woodmason

FROCESTER captain Nick Trainor hailed a ‘team effort’ as his side retained the Premier One title with a game to spare.

Paul Muchall smashed his first century for the club as Frocester posted an imposing 291 for six against relegation threatened Taunton Deane who fell 18 runs short.

Trainor said “It’s a great achievement to retain the title. Paul Muchall has been fantastic all season, but, we’ve had so many close finishes and won so many of them, that’s been down to a great team effort.”

Earlier, Rob Woodman won the toss and inserted Frocester, with Javid Khan and Urzi Quereshi making a flying start, 21 runs coming from the first three overs. The opening stand was worth 87 in 17 overs.

However, Khan was leg before for 39. Muchall was quickly into his stride with some exhilarating running between the wickets, whilst Quereshi continued to find the boundary, reaching his half century in the 21st over.

However, he was caught on the boundary for 58, Tom Wand started carefully, but then attacked the Taunton Deane spinners, whilst Muchall continued to work the bowling into gaps.

Wand was caught behind for 38 trying to hook a bouncer, with the total at 193 in the 39th over. Trainor walked to the wicket in attacking mood and smashed two sixes, but was annoyed to spoon a simple catch to cover.

Louis Gegg and Sam Bracey were also intent on raising the scoring rate, but both perished in attempting to do so. However, Muchall was beginning to open his shoulders, reaching his century in the 50th over.

In reply, Frocester’s bowlers were focused on the threat from ex-Gloucestershire batsman Woodman and West Australia state player John Rogers.

However, Underdown and Loud made a confident start, with an opening partnership of 36, when Ross Martin had Loud caught at cover for 19.

Muchall, bowling short spells, returned to attack Rogers and duly had him caught and bowled, top-edging a quick bouncer.

Two more wickets fell in quick succession, leaving the visitors struggling at 77 for four and Frocester seemingly in command of the match.

However, Woodman and Thomas re-built the innings, slowly at first, but gradually began to score more freely, particularly as a stoppage for rain meant the Frocester bowlers had to control a wet ball.

The score passed 100 in the 30th over, with Taunton Deane requiring 192 in 20 overs, a tall order. But, Woodman and Thomas began to find gaps in the field, resulting in regular boundaries.

The game turned again as Thomas was caught at short third man for 27 with the total at 144 for five. But, Woodman began to punish any wayward deliveries by lifting them over the boundary. Again it was left to Muchall to dismiss him, caught behind for an excellent 81.

At 206 for six, Frocester appeared to have the match won, but a 53 - run partnership between Redrup (44) and Harrison (26) brought the visitors back into the match.

Relief was almost audible when Wand held a fantastic diving catch at long off to dismiss Redrup. Still Taunton Deane managed to score at the required 10 runs per over, but then three tight overs from Richie Cave, Trainor and Muchall meant that 25 were required from the final over, fittingly bowled by Trainor and he conceded only seven runs as Frocester celebrated.