Cheddar 1st XI 291-2 Frome 1st XI 160 (Cheddar won by 131 runs)

Following three successive victories, Frome came crashing back to earth at Fromefield last Saturday when Cheddar inflicted a 131-run defeat on the home side.

After electing to bat first on a humid day, Cheddar's openers Australian Luke Hunter and Dave Stacey were soon in their stride, scoring at a rate of five an over from the start and putting on 96 runs for the first wicket.

The stand was ended when Stacey, having just reached his half-century, attempted a big hit off Craig Dredge but only succeeded in being caught at long-off by the bowlers son, Daniel Dredge.

However, this did not disturb the visitors and, with Mike Sims hitting 47 before being caught and bowled by Clive Hamblin, the score reached 175-2 with 10 overs remaining.

Frome rang the bowling changes but all seemed the same to the visiting batsmen as 116 runs came off the final 10 overs, with Hunter batting throughout to post 128 not out and Steve Churches an unbeaten half-century as Cheddar finished their 45 overs with an imposing total of 291-2.

As so often happens when chasing a large total, an early wicket fell in reply and it was the in-form Mark Dredge who was dismissed for two, caught by Churches off Mike Loughlin.

Paul Sanger hit 37 and David Dredge 23 but it was not enough and Frome toppled to 84-5 from 21 overs.

Frome revised their targets and Clive Hamblin batted well for 31 before being bowled by Dave Stacey but, with the final four wickets falling for 13 runs, Frome were bowled out for 160, giving the visitors victory by 131 runs.

At the halfway point of the season, Frome are lying in seventh place in the table following three victories and five defeats from their eight matches.

On Saturday, Frome entertain high-flying Street, to whom they suffered a narrow defeat in the first match of the season after being forced to play with 10 men following an injury to Mark Dredge. The match starts at 1.45pm.