Devon Dumplings v Ashford CC

A bright sunny day saw the return of Ashford CC, at the end of their week’s tour of Devon. The Budleigh ground looked lovely and it will be with some sadness that they migrate to higher
 ( and drier!) ground in 2023 By mutual agreement it was a declaration game and the Tourists opted to bat first.

Last-minute withdrawals had led to Dumplings making Arshad Vohra an honorary Dumpling and the Match Manager donning his kit post haste.

Ashford made a steady start in the face of lively pace from Tommy Stewart and Felix Joseph. Satyam Selhi led the way, with Chris Evans, the England 60s Captain, keeping his end ticking over.

The outfield was dry and the ball travelled quickly to the boundary.

With the score on 62 Selhi was undone by a short ball from Joseph that he could only pop back to the bowler. Tanmay Desai then kept up the pace at a run a ball as the score was moved on to 151. Desai was defeated by a quick ball from Jon Martin and 2 runs later Evans’ careful innings was terminated by Vohra. 

When Cousens was smartly run out by Chris Battin, Ashford had subsided from 151-1 to 167-4. Jon Martin maintained the pressure with two more wickets and a seemingly generous declaration with the score at 191-6 was a lot less daunting than had seemed likely at one stage. Captain Martin Goff had made good use of seven bowlers and the fielding had supported them ably.

At that point, with 20 overs from 5.15 being prescribed, there was the possibility of a close finish.

That soon became a great deal less likely with the loss of four wickets within the first 6 overs. James Horler hit an enormous six and was then caught at mid-on off the bowling of Gurpal Hundal. He then had two more trapped LBW and keeper Jeremy Tojy nicked the ball to slip.

This brought together the exciting young Keralan all-rounder Felix Joseph and Budleigh’s resident overseas, Durbanite  Matt Kimber. They added 43 at a run a ball. Joseph went for 30 from 32 balls. Goff defended solidly allowing Kimber to score freely at the other end. They added 35 and then Goff fell LBW to Hundal and Stewart departed soon after,setting Dumplings once again on the backfoot at 128-7

Martin entered the fray and proceeded to knock the ball all around the ground, including a memorable flat bat 6 over midwicket that just cleared the boundary fielder. His 32 from 26 balls had tipped the balance firmly back towards Dumplings. Kimber was still scoring freely and enjoying the slower pace of the Ashford bowling, hitting some punchy pulls and drives to the boundary.

Chris Battin survived 8 balls and scored 2 before going LBW with the score on 188-9 and 7 balls remaining. Last man Paul Berman came in with any one of four outcomes possible for the game.

Ashford captain Andrew Tippell had come back on for the last over and was very accurate in line and length. Berman survived 4 balls and then squeezed a single out to leg finally getting Kimber back on strike with 3 needed to win. He played an audacious ramp shot but the lack of pace meant that only two runs could be taken before a fielder had the ball in his hand. A suicidal third run would have created a tie, but the batsmen settled for an honourable draw.

Kimber made 71 from 83 and Hundal had excellent figures of 6 for 23 from 10 overs.

A good end to an exciting and exhilarating game after a perfectly-judged declaration. Though a tie would have been a first ever for Ashford on tour. PMB

Ashford: 191-6 dec C Evans 58; S Selhi 41; T Desai 41; J Martin 3-15

DD: 191-9: M Kimber 71; J Martin 32; F Joseph 31; G Hundal 6-23

MATCH DRAWN