Devon Dumplings v Devon Seniors

Devon Dumplings v Devon County Seniors

Bovey Tracey C.C. Tuesday 28th July 2020 at 12 noon

In this unprecedented year, Devon Seniors hosted what was the Dumplings’ first game of the season. The weather had promised to be fine but a few early morning sprinklings had left the field very slightly damp, though the wicket itself had been covered.

Seniors won the toss and bravely elected to bat. The Dumplings side was weighted in favour of bowling, and so fielding first was not unwelcome.

The innings started badly, one opener falling to a very smart catch behind off the bowling of a rejuvenated Francis Pyle ( after a gap of 14 years) and the other to a full length diving catch by the Captain, Paul Berman, at square leg to dismiss the dangerous Martin Wright. When hard-hitting Captain Andy Rose was bowled by a big inswinger from Pyle for a duck, Seniors were on the brink at 7 for 3.

Barry Flicker was joined by N. Devon’s Tom Stanton and they moved the score on to 30 before Stanton was bowled by John Martin. This brought in Keith Bell of Ipplepen, and they settled into a productive partnership that brought 76 runs from 18 overs. 

It ended when Bell mistimed a drive straight to Dominic Tuohey at cover, having scored 39.

The sun continued to shine and a firm breeze running sideways across the pitch had dried up the outfield which was running fast.

The overs were running out and Flicker, in attempting to move the score on, was neatly stumped off Berman. The same over saw the last of the Seniors’ batsmen depart caught and bowled.

The last five overs produced only 20 runs but Seniors had managed to reach 141 for 9 wickets off their 40 overs. This was a lot better than might have been predicted when 7-3, but on a fast outfield in bright sun, it looked light.

The bowling had been very varied in style, from the young Charlie Presswell bowling a good long spell of leg-spin through to four bowlers who all play for Devon as Seniors. John Martin had added sprightly pace opening and closing the innings in good style.

Dumplings opened with another junior at one end – Jasper Presswell, and a Devon Senior, Dave Hart, at the other. Lively opening spells from John Baglivi (Hatherleigh) and Robin Lambert (Ashburton) kept the run rate at about 3, with Presswell batting fluently and productively. Hart was undone when Bell came on , but by then the score was 72. Presswell retired on reaching 50 off 68 balls.

Harry Kandampully meted out some severe punishment for too much short-pitched bowling and by the time Dominic Tuohey joined him the end was nigh. Kandampully hit 55 from 27 balls in 32 minutes, and Seniors’ total was passed in the 30th over.

The Seniors opening bowlers had done well, 15 overs for 51 runs, but the lack of practice due to the absence of previous games was particularly hard for them to manage.                      PMB

Dumplings won by 8 wickets.

Devon Seniors 141-9 Bell 39; Flicker 37; J. Martin 3-15; M Floyer 2-14; F Pyle 2-22; P Berman 2-22

Devon Dumplings 143-1 H Kandampully 55n.o.; J Presswell 50 (ret'd).; D Hart 24