Match Report

2nd XI vs Frome 2nds, 23rd July 2005

Cheddar 2nds 174 lost to Frome 2nds 172-7 by 3 wickets

Cheddar lost ground against the league leaders by letting slip a good winning position at second placed Frome. Having chosen to bat second, Frome were very quickly under pressure chasing Cheddar's target of 172. Sayan Chattopadhyay picked up two quick wickets and when Barrow carved Dave Phillips to Nick King at midwicket, Frome were struggling at 27 for 3 off 12 overs.

Left handed Terry Dredge and right handed Wilson set about rebuilding the innings and gradually developed a momentum. Che Moore, his nose broken in 3 places by a misdirected throw whilst batting, bowled tightly but as the batsman began to take more risks the boundaries started to flow. Steve Russett just failed to hold on to a difficult catch off his own bowling and with Phillips unable to cling onto a sharp chance in the covers, Frome began to sense their luck might be in as they moved past the hundred . Sayan replaced Russett and applied the brakes. This forced Frome to be more adventurous against Moore who finally forced the breakthrough by first bowling Dredge for 56 and then having Wilson (40) caught behind by 'keeper Stacey. Incoming batsman Penny was dropped first ball but quick thinking by Mike Edmonds ran out Lennard in the next over to leave Frome suddenly at 113 for 6 and the game there for Cheddar's taking. But Penny had different ideas, pulling viciously through the leg side and well supported by Neal, he took his chance and hammered a rapid 42 to lead Frome home with 3 overs to spare.

Earlier, Cheddar had got off to a stuttering start against tight swing bowling from Barrow and Wheeler. John Sims and Richard Kent had taken their time to develop a platform before Sims (17) was caught behind. King and Phillips both went in quick succession against tight bowling as Cheddar then slumped to 58 for 4 off 24 overs. Kent and Edmonds gradually upped the tempo with Edmonds (15) carving 3 fours before falling to a superb catch in the covers. The partnership had put on 50 in 8 overs but when Kent (73) lofted Wheeler to long off, Cheddar were again in the mire at 115 for 6. Steve Russett (20) and Sayan (18) took on the bowlers for the last 10 overs and with the bloodied Moore also chipping in Cheddar thought they had set a defendable target. But it was not to be. As Frome's seven catches proved, catches really do win matches.