A warm day (but with the prospect of heavy rain) saw Holmes Chapel, down from Cheshire, on their first tour, hoping for better, given that their games against Thorverton & Sidmouth were abandoned due tobad weather. They have a family connection to Thorverton and had been able to borrow 2 players to make up their team. Holiday traffic and accidents had meant several players were late to arrive.

By consent Dumplings batted first, and then lost an early wicket when Toby Jones was caught with the score on 12. A steady partnership of 72 for the second wicket between Adam Bilston and George Daldorph was broken when Bilston was caught having reached 45. Daldorph continued his fine innings until he also was caught just prior to lunch having made 66. The Dumplings were then on 160 for 3. 

Kiran Kumar was on his own personal Devon Tour this week, today being his third game in four days. Despite taking a nasty blow on his upper arm yesterday he batted at No. 4, playing steadily and scored 27 off 70 balls. Abdullah Merchant was aiming to push the score towards a declaration total when he became opening bowler Jonathan Potts’ 3rd victim, bowled on 38 and the score 217 for 5. In the last 5 overs captain Graham White and Aashay Dube took the score onto 260 and a declaration. Dube had scored 40 runs off 39 balls. Holmes Chapel had used 8 bowlers in an attempt to take wickets. Potts was the most successful taking 3 for 62 off his 13 overs. 

Between innings, Dumplings’ President Dominic Tuohey presented our debutant junior player Bobby Heard with his Peter Spencer Bequest cap. 

Holmes Chapel didn’t get off to the start they would have wanted with opener Adam Dyson caught with the score on 1. Luke Vukusic, ( a Thorverton player) came in next and hung around until Kumar bowled him for 26 with the score on 45 for 3. Paul Cudby, their tour organiser, held the lower order together, but they all found the Dumplings bowlers too good, and they were all out for 99. Dumplings used 7 bowlers and all took at least one wicket, but Heard had the best figures with 3 for 13 off his 7 overs. 

Thanks to Exeter CC for hosting the game, and also to the Squash Club for providing excellent food. 

DD 260 for 5 dec. : (G. Daldorph 66, A. Bilston 45, A Dube 40no; J Potts 3/62)

Holmes Chapel: 99. (L. Vukusic 26; B. Heard 3/13, P. Joseph 2/18) 

WH