Frocester will be playing in the top flight of the West of England Premier League next season after producing their own spectacular version of The Great Escape.

Their dramatic three-wicket win at Bishopston on Saturday was their third victory in four games and secured their place in Premier One for 2025.

They had gone into the game in the bottom two – they’d been in the relegation places all season after winning just one of their first 14 games – but left their best to last as they pulled off a remarkable turnaround.

“We’ve got The Great Escape music on now,” laughed club stalwart Eric Woodmason. “We’ve had it on everywhere, even at home.”

Woodmason was speaking to The Local Answer just over 36 hours after Frocester had overcome Bishopston in a nail-biting finish after they had bowled the home side out for 86.

Sri Lankan Wimma Perera was their star man on Saturday. Batting at eight, he hit an unbeaten 21 from 19 balls – he went in with his side 50-6 – after earlier taking 4-20 with his left-arm seam.

“It was great to get the team home and to stay in the division,” said the 34-year-old who is in his fourth season with the club.

And Perera always believed the club could stay up even before their stunning end-of-season run of form.

“All through the season I’ve been saying we’re good enough,” he said. “We just didn’t play good enough cricket, if we played to our potential I said we would win games.”

And that started to happen in mid-August when they pulled off an eye-catching 26-run win over title-chasing Bridgwater.

Two weeks later they set up the chance for their final-day heroics when they defeated fellow strugglers Lansdown by 30 runs. Lansdown’s defeat by Bristol on Saturday means they are relegated with Bishopston.

Frocester actually started the day on bottom of the 10-strong division but once they had dismissed Bishopston inside 36 overs things started to turn very much in their favour, although there were still a few twists and turns.

Perera readily admitted that their run chase was tougher than he expected, although he said: “It wasn’t easy on that wicket.

“We knew we had to work for it and it was a great game of cricket.

“I couldn’t be prouder of the team, it was a great team performance.”

Richie Cave took 4-16 from his 10 overs and Perera continued: “Ryan Kilmister has taken 30 wickets this season, Richie 28. I’ve got about 24 and our skipper Will Naish has taken more than 20.”

And Perera is already looking forward to playing for Frocester in 2025.

“I love this club and I love playing cricket,” he said.