Devon Dumplings v Tenterden CC

Wednesday 01 June 2022 at Exeter County

DD 227-5 dec (44 overs) Tenterden 150 AO (54.2 overs)

 

The Kent team, on a 3-day Devon tour, had played a T20 the previous evening at Chudleigh and now had to adapt to the very different demands of declaration cricket. On a cloudy morning, they won the toss and put the Dumplings in.

 Before the start of play, Dominc Tuohey, Dumplings’ President and the day’s Captain, made a presentation of playing kit to our younger players. The late Peter Spencer had made a bequest and to reflect his delight in seeing well -turned out teams,, the Club is using it to fund caps for juniors playing their first game, and shirts for those who sign up to join. Presentations were made to Joseph Poustie and Jeremy Tojy and caps to Cameron Stanley-Blakey, Billy Buckingham and Jonathan Warner. 

Play got underway, and opener Harry Everett was unfortunate to be caught behind off the first ball of the day. There followed a good steadying partnership of 66 between Jeremy Tojy and Graham White before Tojy was caught in the slips for 25, having just been dropped on 20. White played some classic cover drives during his innings of 30. Harry Kandampully hooked a 6 over square leg resulting in a lost ball. By lunch the Dumplings had progressed to 126 but with 5 wickets down. Lunch was a delicious lasagne provided by the Squash Club. 

Tenterden toiled in the afternoon to little effect as an unbroken partnership of 127 between Tuohey (59*) and Chathura Peiris (75*) took the score to 227. Tuohey then made an early and potentially generous declaration. 

Tenterden soon lost a wicket with the score on 11 when Julian Childs edged a catch to the slips. They made slow progress and were losing wickets at regular intervals though a productive 4th wicket partnership of 42 between Simon Khomari (42 off 43 balls) and James Allen improved their chances given there was still plenty of time left in the game. Wicket keeper Carlin Smith was next in, and played a slow steady innings while wickets were falling at the other end. Stanley-Blakey took two wickets in two balls on his way to a 4 wicket haul. 

With the sun now out, and the last hour set for 6:00pm, Umpire Nick Forbes delighted in giving his favourite signal - the start of the last hour. Although Tenterden were 8 down at this point, they made Dumplings work for their victory. Four slips lined up as opening bowler Jonathan Warner returned. Their No 11 Mark Kikkinos, doing his W.G. Grace impression, resisted the pressure well, but the return of Tuohey in the 55th over, with all the fielders crowded around, proved to be too much for him and he was adjudged LBW having scored 16 off 31 balls. 

The customary fines session was held in the bar after what had proved to be an enjoyable first match between the two sides. Thanks were due to Exeter CC for hosting the match and the Squash Club for the excellent catering that they were able to provide. 

WH