Cricket: Trainor guides Frocester to final

4:42pm Wednesday 27th August 2008

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County Cup semi-final Frocester (218) beat Bedminster (190 a.o) by 28 runs

FROCESTER reached the County Cup final for the sixth time in seven years, testament to their dominant position in club cricket within Gloucestershire.

Nick Trainor’s all-round skills were, once again, to the fore as Frocester were seriously tested by an emerging Bedminster team.

Frocester were invited to bat on a dry, but slow wicket, and Trainor and Shackleton found runs hard to come by against the accurate seam attack of James Carter and Rob Cunliffe.

They took the score to 42 in the 14th over when Shackleton was caught at mid-off for nine.

Trainor was then joined by Rich Evans in a superb stand of 114 in 16 overs. Frocester skipper Trainor began to take control as the Bedminster support bowlers received some serious punishment, although Evans fell for 42.

Trainor went through to another century made from only 101 balls, although he was out immediately afterwards.

The remaining Frocester batsmen batted sensibly, scoring a run a ball and setting a base for Ashley Davis to score 15 from the final over, including two huge sixes off a luckless Rob Cunliffe.

Despite Shackleton capturing an early wicket, the Bedminster top order hit boundaries at will.

Donaldson (44) and Hardwick (15) put on 61 for the second wicket in only 13 overs.

However, the introduction of Courtney Ricketts and Cavan Ditchmen changed the complexion of the match.

Ricketts dismissed both of the above batsmen and Frocester began to take control. Cunliffe started brightly but became bogged down, with Trainor cleverly manipulating his field, allowing his more illustrious county colleague so little of the strike.

Ricketts bowled magnificently, taking five wickets as Bedminster slumped to 147-8, with Ricketts finishing with 5-28.

Richie Cave and Ashley Davis polished off the tail as Bedminster were dismissed for 190, Frocester winning by 28 runs.

Frocester now face Knowle, promoted to Premier One next season, in the final at the County Ground on Saturday September 6, 1pm start. Entry is free.