Devon Dumplings v The Frogs

 

A lovely warm and sunny summer’s day and the Dumplings were looking to reverse the result of yesterday, especially with two reinforcements coming up from Devon for the remainder of the tour. We were playing on the same strip as yesterday and though it had had a few repairs overnight, it looked as though it might favour spin.

Captain Mark Gribble having won the toss and deciding to bat then had to quickly rearrange the top batting order as the players from Devon hadn’t quite arrived. So Oliver Allsop had to accompany Harry Kandampully out into the middle. Having swapped his helmet for a cap,he  was bowled  first ball with the score still on 0. Batting wasn’t easy but James Horler managed to score 23 before being caught off Tom Marshall with the score on 59. Sam Read came out to join Kandampully, who, having started slowly off his first 30 balls, targetted first change bowler James Mabbett, frequently finding the boundary before he came down the wicket much too far to Tom Allen, leaving Kieran Gray behind the stumps plenty of time to take off the bails. Alex Gorton struck with his first wicket on the stroke of lunch, bowling Read who had made 53, with the Dumplings on 146 for 6. 

After enjoying an excellent lunch it was Gorton who enjoyed himself, taking the last four Dumplings wickets for a further 43 runs. Richard Bentley confidently dealt with the hat-trick ball he faced, taking a single from it. Dumplings’ total was relatively small, but having been bowled out it saved the captain the decision as to when to declare. 

The Frogs made a slow start in their reply, finding it difficult to score off opening bowlers Shea Gribben and Bentley. Gribben struck at the end of his third over with Gray adjudged LBW. Gorton, fresh from his bowling achievements, came in after the tea break with The Frogs in trouble on 25 for 3. Spin bowler Read then caused further problems,finishing his first spell with figures of 5-2-5-4. The Frogs were struggling on 46 for 6. Mabbett  joined Gorton, and they put on a fruitful 74 before Read returned for a second spell, bowling Gorton for 59 after he had hit him for a 6 and a 4 off the previous two balls. Mabbett fell next to Mark Gribble and Read soon wrapped up the innings with a couple more wickets, taking his tally to 7, finishing off the innings with a caught and bowled.

Both teams enjoyed a BBQ at the ground in the pleasant evening sunshine.                    WJH

DD 189 AO - S Read 53; H Kandampully 52; A Gorton 7.3-0-30-5

The Frogs 148 AO – A Gorton 59; S Read 11.4-3-40-7

Devon Dumplings won by 41 runs.