Devon Dumplings v Free Foresters

Monday 11 July 2022 at Seaton

Free Foresters 231-7 (55) DD 235-7 (47) DD won by 3 wickets

 
Devon Dumplings arrived to play Free Foresters at Seaton Cricket Club on a scorcher of a day. The sun was blazing and there was hardly a cloud in the sky. A perfect day for a game of timed cricket. 

Harry Kandampully was Captain and debutant Match Manager. After a brief discussion it was agreed that the final 20 overs should be from 6pm. Free Foresters won the toss and chose to bat much to the dismay of a few in the team. However, the umpires sensibly agreed to drinks every hour and this seemed to pacify any dissenters. 

Aashay Dube and Abdullah Merchant opened the bowling for Dumplings. Both bowled well, beating the bat on numerous occasions, and were unlucky not to get any reward for their efforts. Aashay particularly bowled a fiery spell (0-29 off 8 overs) and had two catches dropped off his bowling. Abdullah was tiring in his last over (0-36 off 5 overs). The skipper turned to the spin of Aditya More and Dominic Tuohey. Dom broke the opening partnership of 98, bowling Garri Jones for a well-played 46. Aditya picked up the wicket (LBW) of the other opener John Ratledge. with a superb arm ball He had looked very dangerous (48 off 48 balls) making the score 109-2. He went on to take the wickets of Robin Jones (8), and P. Deakin (1). Lunch was taken as the 4th wicket fell. Everyone was grateful to find the shade, much-needed refreshment and a welcome cold lunch, which proved just the ticket on such a hot day. 

After lunch both spinners bowled with great control, finding turn and bounce on a surface that was offering them some assistance. Aditya finished with figures of 3-45 off 13 overs. Neil Baker (0) had to retire hurt with back spasms. He played no further part in the match and was in great discomfort. He was however in the capable hands of Peter Jolliffe. Devon Dumplings would like to wish him a speedy recovery.

Dom bowled extremely well, possibly one of his best spells for Dumplings, picking up the 5th wicket of James Baldwin (3) with the score on 136-5. He could easily have had much better figures than his 2-39 off 12 overs- 3 catchs were dropped off his bowling. The two left armers were replaced by Adam Bilston and Harry Everett. Adam picked up the 6th wicket of G Bretten (46) bowled with one that kept very low, to make the score 176-6. It was a  timely wicket as he had started to look dangerous after an initial cautious start to his innings. Adam bowled with control to finish with miserly figures (1-4 off 5 overs). Harry Everett picked up the 7th wicket of B French (10) caught behind off his leg spin to a fantastic low catch by Oliver Gribble to make the score 178-7. Oli had a tremendous day behind the stumps stopping numerous byes from wayward deliveries on a difficult pitch. He ended up wearing several balls to the body and one on the helmet.

Joe Poustie replaced Adam, bowling a much-improved length from his last outing. It allowed the skipper to set an effective  field for him. He finished with figures of 0-16 off 4 overs. Harry Everett didn’t bowl with his usual accuracy and was more expensive than usual- 1-53 off 8 overs. His last over went for about 20 as Free Foresters hit out in their last over before declaring on 231-7 off 55. It was a very fair and sporting declaration by the Free Foresters skipper leaving all 3 results possible. 

A quick change over and opening the batting for Dumplings were Oli Gribble and Matt Hewer. An interesting impersonation of Jeff Thompson by one of the their openers allowed Oli to get the innings off to a flyer scoring 29 off 19 balls before being caught at mid-off with the score at 39-1 - one lofted shot too many. Harry Everett then joined Matt Hewer ( still on 0) and they batted through to Tea. 

Sensible batting took the score to 74, when Harry got one that popped off the surface,hit the splice of the bat and was taken by a remarkable catch at 2nd slip off O Knot. The skipper then joined Matt (16) at the crease. They put on a partnership of over 50 with the skipper taking the lead and Matt giving him the strike. The skipper succumbed to O Knot trying to hit the off-spinner over the top of cover and being caught for a brisk 41 off 31 balls with  the score then 129-3 and Matt on 27. Graham White joined Matt shortly before 6 pm, and according to Harry Everett “batted his best for Dumplings” playing some glorious cover drives in the process. Matt passed 50. The two spinners from Free Foresters Robin Jones and P Deakin had slowed the run rate considerably and both batsmen found boundaries difficult to come by. Graham tried to up the run rate. But as a result was  caught off Robin Jones for 33 from 47 balls. Adam Bilston then batted very unselfishly and under captain’s orders scored a quick 9 off 10 balls before being caught skying a slog sweep off Robin Jones. Dumplings then lost 2 wickets in 3 balls. The next ball Matt Hewer 63 was bowled by Robin Jones andhis patient innings came to an end. Aditya More was out second ball to Will Sandbach with the score still on 207-7. 

This left the match in a most precarious position. Aashay Dube had joined Dom Tuohey at the crease. With him playing and missing a few balls in the rest of the Will Sandbach over, to the groans of the Free Foresters, Dumplings needed 24 runs off 36 balls by the end of the over. The skipper’s heart rate was definitely starting to go up. He needn’t have worried though with the combination of Aashay and Dom. Cometh the hour, cometh the men. Dom hit a boundary then got a single early in the over - 19 off 33 needed. Aashay then proceeded to hit 2 big sixes and a skillful scoop shot for 4- 3 off 30 needed and the skipper started to breathe again. The pair did it easily, with Aashay finishing it off in style with a shot smoked through cover for a final boundary. A great win for Dumplings and meaning  the Club remains  undefeated in 2022.

Thank you to everyone who helped to put the game together and helped me match manage my first game for the Dumplings. In particular, Wendy Hardy who does so much work behind the scenes to make the match manager’s job easier. A thank you to the umpires, scorers, groundsman, tea ladies, and Seaton Cricket Club for being gracious hosts. Also, a huge thank you to Free Foresters for playing timed cricket in its true spirit . We look forward to playing you in the future. 

HK