Devon Dumplings v Free Foresters

 Although the forecast rain was not as bad as feared nevertheless it did have an effect on the match, meaning the loss of the toss would be of more importance than usual. The covers came off revealing a soft, dampish, green wicket on which both sides wanted to bowl first and FFs duly made that choice on winning the toss.

Dumplings openers batted carefully putting on 35 before the first of four lbw decisions in the innings sent back Matt  Hewer for 13 runs. Numbers 3, 4 and 5 all suffered ducks including two more lbws making a total of five ducks in the innings, one of which was at least  off 12 balls! Freddie Cockram, in his second game for Dumplings, was joined by Graham White in a partnership of 45  before another lbw saw him dismissed for 51 runs - his maiden Dumplings half-century. He batted beautifully in difficult conditions and is certainly one to watch. White was next to depart, on the stroke of lunch for what he referred to as “a bad leave” bowled middle and off stump for 17.

It had been drizzling for a few minutes so the pitch was covered over the lunch period and that protected it from more than an hour of steady, but light, rain.

Debutant Dylan Burrough batted on after lunch, seeing the third overseas suffer a duck when Aashay Dube was out lbw. He was joined by Kiran Kumar to put on a partnership of 25. Burrough was stumped for 20 with the score at 117 for 7 and the innings subsided to 120 all out.

Foresters batted after a  10 minute turn around which included scones and cake. Their openers put on 45 together before B French was out caught for 8 leaving N Baker (65) to put on a further 51 with James Fulton (40*) He was bowled by Dube. Fulton and James Baldwin then completed the win with little further difficulty.

A short while after the game ended the rain returned and continued  until the following morning. Good to get a completed game in although better to win the toss next time!

DDCC: 120, Freddie Cockram 51, Dylan Burrough 20, Graham White 17 – Richard Pyman 4/25, Will Mckegney 3/18 and Chris Sandbach 2/23

Free Foresters: 121/2, N Baker 63, James Fulton 40* - Adam Bilston 1/27, Aashay Dube 1/38

PJ