Devon Dumplings v Free Foresters

A Barbadian, a Victorian ( Aussie, not historical), two Devonians and a chap of mixed Indian/ Queensland/ Plymouth heritage sitting in a Seaton curry house at 10pm on a Monday evening.  The start of a bad joke, an Ollie Robinson Tweet or the end of a typically sparkling Devon Dumplings day?

The latter, and an early end to the cricket due to the incessant rain had the bonus of  six hours for  consumption and discourse before the whole town shut down. That one of the party was the son of a  Windies’ great only added to the story telling, along with Emma from Torquay.

Certain that we would not be playing cricket, nor indulging Brian Cann’s sudden taste for Lawn Bowls, the writer turned up three minutes before start of play to find the Foresters had chosen to field. Christian Cabburn was making an appearance for the Foresters, but an injured shoulder meaning he could not bowl and a score of 5 at number 3 meant no recriminations from the DDs.

Openers Matt Hewer and Josh Cann, both playing on their home ground, put together Dumplings highest partnership of 59 . Neither scored 50 and they were both later  passed by Cann senior, top scoring with 40 at number six.

This was actually the highest score of the match, despite it being a declaration game and DD batting for 60 overs. The sodden surface meant ball definitely dominated bat.

 Oliver Allsop’s home is not as far from Seaton as Barbados or Melbourne, but he had to drive from Liskeard for the day. He  was became the butt of some mirth in the ranks. Graham White emerged from the toilet to see Allsop suddenly back in the pavilion and asked : 

“What happened?”

“What’s the worst way to get out in cricket?”  

“Run out backing up at the non-striker's end!” Whitey replied….

Harry Kandampully the cause having  driven one back hard,  too close to the bowler for Allsop to regain his ground in time. 

“Serves him right for backing up in Dumplings cricket” Whitey’s only word of sympathy.

Mali Marshall and Harry Everett both managed 30+ stands with BCann, the day’s Senior Pro. In between he had managed to  run out Heathcoat’s Aussie overseas Shea Gribben. 

When Cann fell for 40 at 189-9, Dumplings showed their serious depth of batting  with Dom Tuohey and skipper Joel Seward easing us to 207-9, before Seward  decided 60 overs batting was more than enough.

No one bowler stood out particularly for the opponents, with the slow pitch and outfield making even the  leggie’s long hops tricky to put away.

The two overseas seamers, Marshall and Gribben, gave very little away,   even less so when both started to slip and slide in the mostly mud-covered creases. Gribben having  left his entire cricket bag in Knightshayes  Pavilion  he had to bowl in flat soled trainers. This did not help. Marshall bowling off three steps with the ‘keeper up certainly did help. Teammates  questioned why he does not bowl off three steps in league cricket, such was the improvement.  

13 opening overs for just 31 from the bat was an impressive, but in the end fruitless start, leaving  two left-arm spinners on together, and while Seward tied up one end, Tuohey could have had a five-fer at the other end. Sympathy for part-time wicketkeeper Matt Hewer whilst ‘sore-fingered’ Josh Cann just chuckled at a redundant slip. He managed two stumpings but could have taken two or three more, all off Tuohey.

A few pitching wedges into the gaps mildly irritated Dumplings fielders, and Neil Baker at four (28*) for the Foresters looked to be in a class of his own. As the rain poured down even harder Everett tried three  overs of leg-spin and Tuohey managed  2-46 off 11.  I think all were content to call it a day at 113-3 after 35, despite the game looking well set up for an exciting finish.

There was standing water on most of the ground, this following the weird scenario earlier in the game when Deep Extra Cover was getting drenched whilst the rest of the field was in bright sunlight. 

H.E.