Devon Dumplings v South Oxfordshire Amateurs

 South Oxfordshire Amateurs were our hosts today and they had secured a slot at the picturesque and much-sought after ground in the Valley of the Rocks, home to Lynton & Lynmouth Cricket Club. This match is believed to be the first time that the Devon Dumplings have played at this lovely ground and everyone enjoyed the experience.

The day started a little cool and cloudy but by mid-afternoon we were basking in some welcome sunshine. We were certainly not alone, with the holiday season in full swing and the famous goats  also in attendance, one grazing in the car park and a small group up on the rocks. At times the bleating of the goats could be heard. Two Dumplings went up the hill opposite the ground to admire the view but then they had to play the mountain goat themselves as they came down the steep hillside through the bracken carving a path for themselves.

James Horler was our captain today and having won the toss he decided to bat first, with Kiran Sakhamuri and Jeremy Tojy opening. After a bright first over Sakhamuri had scored 10. Tojy unluckily snicked one to the slips in the next over. Our bad luck continued with James Ewen soon out cheaply and Sakhamuri followed having made 15. All fell victims to opening bowler Tim Mahoney and the Dumplings were struggling at 22 for 3. Fortunately Harry Kandampully was enjoying the occasion and more importantly was regularly finding the boundary. When he was in the 40s he received a life when a skier was misjudged at long on. The SOAs then gave Ali Wright a couple of reprieves before his luck run out with the score on 65. James Allen didn’t stay around for long and was caught at mid-wicket with a good low catch by youngster James Lunn. Horler gave some good support to Kandampully, taking the score onto 138 for 6 with a 64 run partnership. But it was Sam Read’s lightning innings of 52 off just 24 balls which really helped the score along. With six 6s the fielders were regularly hunting for the ball amongst the bracken. In the meantime Kandampully continued to find the boundary himself, until he was finally bowled, having scored a wonderful 107. His century had come from 76 balls and included 17 fours and two 6s. Instead of taking a well-earned rest, Kandampully went up the path behind the ground with a camera only to discover that Horler had declared, after a few quick runs from Dan Fogerty, meaning he only had a short break himself before it was time to take to the field. 

 The opening Dumplings’ bowlers, Jon Martin and Dan Fogerty, were very miserly and at the end of their 5 overs apiece the SOAs had only managed to score 18. The Dumplings had their first chance in the 11th over when Allen missed a hard caught and bowled, but Fogerty took a diving catch at extra short cover in the next over and Nick Bishop was out having scored a gallant 2 off a great many dot balls. At drinks prior to the start of 20 overs in the last hour the score had progressed to 67 for 2 off 23 overs. SOAs showed more intent after drinks scoring 11 off the next over and boundaries were coming more frequently with it being the Dumplings’ turn to clamber over the fence to hunt for balls in the bracken. The Dumplings’ fielding was a little mixed with one or two dropped catches and missed run-outs although Martin’s attempt from long-off was impressive and Tuohey’s unsighted back flip was ingenious but unsuccessful. There were also some good stops on the boundary, sometimes with the aid of feet. Ali Wright missed a difficult stumping but made no mistake when Junaid Aziz went down the wicket, missed it and was out for 60. The outcome was getting tight and the situation tense, with a win by SOAs a real possibility with their score on 200 with 4 overs left, and their captain Frankie Crouch still at the crease. But Horler brought back the openers with just 3 overs left, and Martin in particular put the brakes on their innings and in the last over of the match Crouch, having made 69, fell to a great catch by Fogerty on the boundary. And so the match ended in a Draw. 

It had been a great day out and thanks to SOAs for getting us the fixture, and for Lynton & Lynmouth for preparing the ground. WJH

DD 243 for 8 dec: H Kandampully 107; S Read 52; T. Mahoney 3 for 30. 

SOAs 223 for 5:    F Crouch 69; Junaid Aziz 60; J Martin 7-2-13-1. 

Match Drawn.