WEMBDON won the toss, chose to bowl and claimed the first wicket in the second over – Rich Eckley stumping Frome’s opener with his skittling technique.

However, the opening partner T. Leonard went hard at the ball and took a liking to Brendan Pope as he blasted Frome to 35 off five overs. A partnership of 86 for the second wicket put Frome in the driving seat but, at 100 off 20 overs, the run rate had been reduced through tight spells from Dan Bingham and the excellent Will Pope.

On a hard deck, the pace of Johnson was too much for some Frome batters followed up by spin twins Tom Lott and Pigden and the Frome innings was fizzling out.

Some well-held catches in the field and behind the stumps supported the bowlers and a team effort kept Frome to a par 228-8 off 50 overs.

In reply, Johnson, opening the batting for the first time, struck some early blows but soon chopped on. Lott and Puddy added 46 for the second wicket before Lott (26) was trapped lbw.

Jake Bennett soon followed but a fifth wicket stand of 114 between Puddy (81) and Jenkins (31) looked like a match winner, even with the rain starting to come.

Jenkins and Puddy were then removed in consecutive overs followed then by Brendan Pope and Wembdon were teetering at 199-7.

But Bingham, Will Pope and Eckley helped to chase down the runs with Eckley sweeping Hamblin for four to win the game.

Match sponsor: Oatley Vineyard.

* Next Saturday, the 1st XI play at Winscombe followed by a replay of the Regional Semi-Final of the National Village Cup against Chew Magna, which was abandoned after 25 overs on Sunday. Play starts at 2pm.