CRICKET: Frocester come out on top at Taunton Vale

IT was a hard-fought affair, but Frocester emerged with a fifty-five run victory at Taunton Vale on Saturday.

They now lie in fourth in Premier One, 11 points behind leaders Bath.

Captain Nick Trainor won the toss and had no hesitation in batting, with Uzi Qureshi leading the way with an excellent half-century, which included four fours and two sixes.

Liam O’doherty scored 24 in an 85-run partnership with Qureshi, but both fell in quick succession with the total at 108-3.

The middle order failed to fire as Frocester slumped to 135-5 and it was left to Tom Wand, with a welcome half century, supported by Trainor with 39, adding 82 for the sixth-wicket, taking the total to 215-6.

IN-FORM: Uzi Qureshi

However, Frocester needed one of them to bat through to the end of the innings, but with their dismissals at 235 meant that Frocester’s final total of 246-9 was 40 less than they hoped for.

Ross Martin picked up an early wicket and another from Tom Drake left the home team at 47-2 from 13overs, but then a partnership of 99 for the third-wicket with Western Australian Josh Phillippe leading the way with a fine innings of 82, put Taunton on the road towards victory.

However, O’doherty held on to a brilliant diving catch on the boundary off the bowling of Trainor to turn the game.

From 146-2, the innings became a procession as they slumped to 166-7 and then dismissed for 191 in the 44th over.

Next Saturday, Downend are the visit Pounds Close as the race for the Premier One title hots-up.

FROCESTER 2nd X1 defeated Bourton Vale at Pounds Close on Saturday, with the visitors dismissed for 118 in 118 in 38 overs with Dan Huxstep taking 5-26.

Richie Cave (2-26) and Angus Gegg (2-27) also bowled well to put Bourton on the back-foot.

Frocester cruised to a comfortable six-wicket victory inside 30 overs, with James Cook (42 not out) leading the way.

Next Saturday, Downend are the visit Pounds Close as the race for the Premier One title hots-up.