Devon Dumplings v TOUR: Nomads
Nomads 279-6 DD 281-4
The Dumplings’ first game of the Oxford Tour took place on a roasting hot August day on a scorched outfield. Nomads won the toss and chose to bat on what looked like a flat deck. Only 9 Dumplings meant it would be a tough assignment. Graham White was stuck on a slow train from Exeter. Happily Nomads lent a fielder which eased the pain.
Matt Nichols (0-40) and Evan Beck (0-40) opened the bowling and although they both bowled well, struggled to keep the runs down. Chances were few, though one to Dominic Tuohey at Gully off Beck nearly decapitated the Club President. The Nomads’ openers soon brought up the 50 partnership- anything that went past a fielder raced to the boundary. A lot of time was spent searching for the ball in the bushes. This remained a problem for both teams throughout the day. The Dumplings’ ball-finder supremo was Kiran Kumar.
V. Yadav having reached a quick 50, the skipper turned to the spin of Tuohey (4-77) and Matt Kimber (1-66). Tuohey finally made the breakthrough in the 16th over with the wicket of Victor Kandampully (32) caught behind by a gleeful younger brother, with the score on 97. Naveed Ali made a brisk 12 before being caught at mid-on by Ned Hole off Kimber -120-2. Ahmed Elech joined Yadav (73*) and whatever was tried nothing seemed to stop Yadav. Even the introduction of Harry Everett and his simultaneous commentary failed to deter him. He showed real class as he raced to 100 before graciously offering to retire. This gesture was declined and he proceeded to score another 50 very quickly, finally retiring on 150 off 83 balls, with the score now 222-2.
The wicket of Elech (25) stumped off Tuohey next ball offered the possibility of exercising some control over the run-rate. Not so, as Mark Richards (12) and Majindher Singh (30) pushed on to set up the declaration. Richards was bowled by Tuohey trying to hit out -257-4 - and Tom Brockton, the Nomads’ captain, didn’t trouble the scorers, caught and bowled by Tuohey first ball (257-5). Jack Ellis joined Singh, and they batted through to the Nomads’ declaration on 279-5 from 37 overs. Graham White turned up in time to field for the last three balls.
The target seemed daunting and the batsmen were exhorted simply to go out and bat properly and enjoy the conditions. Ben Abrahams and Tuohey opened the batting. Both batted sensibly until tea with the score a very reasonable 43-0 off 10 overs. Tea was obviously to their liking because they came out afterwards and proceeded to thrash the ball to all parts of the ground. Even so, when the 20 overs was called at 6 o’clock, 200 runs were still needed.
Both openers reached elegant 50s in quick time. Abrahams used the reverse sweep to frustrate the bowlers before being caught and bowled by Yadav for an entertaining 88 off 78 balls- 169-1 with 10 overs still to play. Tuohey was out next over to the unlucky run-out at the bowler’s end for a well-made 63 off 69 balls-172-2. The chase was on and with wickets in hand the instruction to Kimber was to go for it. Both he and Ned Hole did so with gusto, running hard between the wickets, putting the bad ball away for 4, all interspersed with some huge sixes from Hole. He led the charge scoring 60 off 29 balls.
The run-rate had climbed to over 12 and overs were running out with 71 needed off 36 balls (209-2). However two big overs brought the score to 233-2 with 4 overs to go - 47 off 24 balls. Four huge sixes from Hole in the next over broke the back of the target, with 26 taken from it– 259-2. With 20 off 18 needed Hole (60) was then out LBW but happily 9 runs were nevertheless taken, leaving eleven needed from 12 balls. Beck come out to join Kimber. A good over for the Nomads produced only 5. 6 needed off the last over. 4 leg byes off the first ball took the pressure off only for Beck to be out LBW to Yadav. However Harry Everett finished the game off with a glorious cover drive. Kimber was unbeaten on 33 off 19 balls. It was a thrilling finish to the game.
A BBQ, beers and endless conversation for both teams followed. Fines for the day were many, most notably Whitey whose entire contribution had been to field 3 balls all day. Nomads’ loan of a fielder was very gracious and much appreciated.
That only 70 overs bowled all day was not the fault of either fielding team but more due to the temperature, constant drinks breaks and the endless hedge-hunting.
A special thank you to those who stayed after and made the post-match social so memorable. Also to the groundsman and his wife for the wonderful catering laid on which was enjoyed by all.
HK
Nomads: 279-6 V Yadav 150 no V Kadanpulli 32 M Singh 30 Tuohey 4-77
DD: B Abrahams 88 D Tuohey 63; N Hole 60; M Kimber 33 V Yadav 3-47
DD won by 6 wickets