Devon Dumplings v Billingshurst CC

A fine sunny day saw the arrival of a touring side new to Dumplings. Most of them were unfamiliar with the framework of declaration cricket, so it was a new experience for them. They won the toss and elected to bat first. The outfield was green but a warm sun and gentle breeze promised to dry up any moisture .

Dumplings had the benefit of two young Australians to opening the bowling, Kai Higham and Shea Gribben. They each dismissed an opener for a duck. Gribben took two more wickets and the tourists were struggling at 30-4.

There was a brief respite, but the leg-spin of young S African Matt Kimber did for Thorneley, followed by an unfortunate and slightly comical runout, setting them back at 60-6.

This brought the Barbadian Shakeem Clarke to the wicket. The next half an hour produced some sparkling entertainment as he hit 4 boundaries and two sixes in a score of 36 off 28 balls. However he then misjudged another big hit and skied the ball to Harry Kandampully, the Dumplings’ Captain.

The tail was swept away by Kimber and the total stood at a rather meagre 103.

However the Bar had been open and the hot sun was assuaged by liquid refreshment and a picnic lunch.

Gribben was the pick of the bowlers, with three wickets for one run from his five overs, whilst Kimber took four for 27 from 9 overs.

The Dumplings innings followed a similar path, as Clarke reduced the score to 8 for 2 by the end of the fifth over. Martin Goff and Jon Martin added 19, but then they both fell to David Dunn and the score was 46-5. Suddenly Billingshurst’s total seemed far away.

It was only the arrival of Devon Senior James Grant and young Andrew Donovan that brought some relief as they added 43 runs in seven overs. Donovan found the boundary 5 times in his 24 and Grant 3 in his score of 21.

They were both trapped LBW but by then the total had reached 97. Gribben and Kimber were able to nudge Dumplings over the finish line, having taken as many overs to score 104 as Billingshurst had needed.

Dunn had good figures of 3-25 in 8 overs and Clarke 2-13.

Tea was taken and the general feeling was that, despite the early finish, honour had been satisfied all round, and a second innings would have been a step too far, given the warm sun and the cold beer. The day ended with the presentation of a cap from the tourists to Dumplings and a copy of “Three Shades of Green” to Billingshurst for their delectation.

This was rounded off by some strenuous choral work by Billingshurst, as the strains of “Sweet Caroline” floated out over the seafront.                                                                 PMB

Billingshurst 103 AO ( Clarke 36; Kimber 8.5-1-27-4; Gribben 5-4-1-3)

DD 104-7 ( Donovan 24; Grant 21; Dunn 8-3-25-3; Clarke 7-2-13-2)