Devon Dumplings v Basingstoke & N Hants

Tuesday 17 August 2021 at Budleigh Salterton

DD: 207-8 (40) Basingstoke 210-8 (33.4)

  It was great to have this fixture back after a year’s break due to Covid. The inaugural fixture was in 2019 at Exmouth, so this was the first game played at Budleigh Salterton. Both clubs had raised good sides for this 40 over game. Exeter won the toss and chose to bat first.
 A solid start from Felix Joseph and Jeremy Tojy preceded two quick wickets to Tyler Bradley (3-31) including one that kept a little low on Harry Kandampully first ball. Joseph continued to bat assertively alongside James Horler (31) in particular, taking the score to 178 before being caught for 67. Valuable late order runs also came from Matthew Kimber (29) and Ethan Brenton (26*). The final total of 207 gave the Dumplings a chance – although runs were available, the pitch had something for the bowlers.
 Basingstoke started strongly, taking the score to 96 in the first 12 overs. Matthew Deadman’s clean hitting resulted in 70 off 43 balls. Very similarly to the Dumpling’s innings, two wickets fell in two balls, this time to Matthew Kimber’s leg spin. The run rate slowed after this thanks to Kimber’s excellent spell of 5-33, however, the opening partnership left the required rate at under four an over. Bowling Basingstoke out became the only option. Despite several more wickets from Kimber and Dominic Tuohey (3-40) leaving the score on 127-7 and giving a glimmer of hope for the Dumplings, a 50-run seventh wicket partnership at a good pace between Joe Oates (55*) and Ashley Neal (17) took the game away. Only one more wicket fell on the way to the required score in the 34th over. 
DD: 207-8 (40 overs) : F Joseph 67; J Horler 31: T Bradley 3-31
Basingstoke: 210-8 (33.4 overs): M Deadman 70; J Oates 55: M. Kimber 5-33; D Tuohey 3-40
Basingstoke won by two wickets