Devon Dumplings v Billingshurst

 The Dumplings made a welcome return to Hatherleigh and despite many trials and tribulations, match manager Richard Tidball had a full complement of 11 players. Hatherleigh player Adam Quick was captain and decided to bat having won the toss. Dumplings’ scorer Wendy Hardy found herself using a laptop for scoring, her first attempt, but she was ably assisted by Sue Tidball to avoid any muddles and her Billinghurst colleague Malcolm Robinson was using the  traditional scorebook method. 

Under cloudy skies, the Dumplings did not start well with the top three batsman soon back in the lovely spacious pavilion with only 34 on the board off 7 overs. Jermain Harding and James Horler steadied the ship taking the score to 75 before Harding was caught. Horler was joined by West Indian Teriq Worrell and the spectators, including two former players, were treated to a magnificent 5th wicket partnership of 152, with some well run singles. But also both batters regularly found the boundary  including six 6s between them, some going over the pavilion. With Worrell caught for 56, Horler carried on and took the total at lunch to 254 off 34 overs. Some time since the Dumplings scored that before lunch! In the 39th over Quick declared with the score on 296 for 7 leaving Horler not out 175 off 112 balls, which included 23 4s and 10 6s. 

 It was a generous declaration with plenty of time lremaining and it kept the game interesting. However, the Dumplings opening bowlers restricted Billingshurst to 52 for 5 after 13 overs. Then Paul Osborne  came to the crease and was himself soon finding the boundary. He and young Jacob Aichroth, on his first tour, amassed a 140 run partnership for the 6th wicket before  Aichroth was caught and bowled by Worrell, who had changed to bowling spin. Osborne continued to hit out, but he was running out of partners, especially when captain Shakeem Clarke and Alastair Robinon where out on consecutive balls. With the score on 249 as the last hour started, Billingshurst were in with a chance but with 9 wickets already down it was a tall order. Osborne scored off his last 14 balls, and Thomas Alexander gave him good support before he was caught having made 20 off 20 balls. The Dumplings had won by 20 runs and Osborne had made 153 not out off 117 balls, hitting 19 4s and six 6s. 

Many thanks to Hatherleigh for their hospitality, especially to Sue Tidball and her helper for the wonderful catering. 

DD 296 for 7 dec (Horler 175no, Worrell 56 – Clarke 2/28) 

Billingshurst 276 (Osborne 153no, Aichroth 46 – Worrell 3/50) 

WH