A FINAL pairing stood firm against the odds as Canon Frome overcame Goodrich to overhaul the Marches Division One leaders.

Canon Frome travelled to league leaders Goodrich hoping to overhaul a nine-point deficit.

Frome had fallen behind in the title race due to two rain affected weeks where the home side secured maximum points while the visitors’ game was abandoned.

Goodrich openers Chris Tookey (26) and James O’Brien (27) started well on a decent batting track and quick outfield but lived dangerously with plenty of runs coming off the edge of the bat.

Some good slip work and wicketkeeping accounted for the openers before Harry Porter (67) continued to score heavily with some fortuitous aerial stroke play.

Canon Frome stuck hard to their task and soon started to see rewards for a gutsy bowling performance.

Adam Atkin 3-27 and Murtaza Ayub 3-34 were the pick of the bowlers with opener Chris Boyson picking up 2-41.

Goodrich’s middle and lower order offered little resistance as some outstanding fielding and catching meant they were bowled out for just 169.

Any hopes Canon Frome had of an easy victory were soon put to bed as Joe Provis (2-21) & Jake Jarrett (1-42) began a hostile spell of fast bowling sending in form batsman Sarvesh Kotian back to the pavilion in just the second over.

With the Goodrich tails up, Sam Pratley steadied Canon Frome nerves with a calm 30 before skipper Lloyd (25) and man of the match Mohamed Serfraz (66) seemed to put the result beyond doubt.

Frome were 164-6 with plenty of overs left when two wickets in two balls from Jack Lewis (2-33) and another for O’Brien (3-15) left Canon Frome rocking on 164-9 and staring at a shock defeat.

Cometh the hour for Frome’s opening bowling pair Chris Boyson and Pete Atkin to show they could do a job with the bat too.

A lot of nervy moments before a Boyson single and paddle for four left the match scores level. More dots and plenty of swing and misses before Pete Atkin drove the winning run to mid-on to put Frome back on the top of the table.