Devon Dumplings v Basingstoke & N Hants

 It was a relief to see bright, dry conditions at Budleigh’s new ground after the rain-affected

game last year. The pavilion is still under construction but it looks like being an impressive

facility with two pitches available. There were four players having their first game for the

Dumplings: Sam England, Harry Sharp and brothers Alex and Nate James.

Basingstoke won the toss and chose to bat, the game being in a 40 over format. A 50 run opening

partnership between Matt Deadman and Matt Donaldson quickly showed there were runs

available with a lightning-fast outfield. After a number of boundaries and several searches

for lost balls, Donaldson (35 off 23 balls) was stumped by one that turned, smartly done by

Harry Sharp. Joe Poustie proceeded to bowl Deadman for 20 in a very good spell alongside

Devon Over-70s spinner Paul Berman.

Patrick Garlick and Callum Coombs added another 50 run partnership before wickets began

to fall more frequently through to the final score of 215 all out. Pick of the bowlers was

Jermain Harding with 3-26 (including an excellent catch by Sharp), alongside a tight spell by

Alex Bevilaqua. Alex James also bowled very well at the death. Garlick was eventually run

out for 49.

215 appeared very achievable in the conditions as it felt around 240 was par.

However, Basingstoke started well, as an early delivery from Peter Whitefield found the

leading edge of Harry Kandampully’s bat for a massively-skied catch. Nate James looked assured on his home ground before he became one of four wickets for Luthando Mndi, caught at cover for

31. At 65-5, Basingstoke were in a strong position. Once Bevilaqua (35) was also dismissed

by a sharply spinning and bouncing delivery from Alex Crawford, it was not looking at all

good for the Dumplings. Despite a 62 run partnership between Dominic Tuohey (45) and Alex James (19) which took the score to 143, the required rate kept rising and both departed in the search for runs. Sharp, injured whilst wicketkeeping, played some impressive shots, but in the end the Dumplings finished 48 runs short.

Many thanks to Budleigh for hosting the game and to Basingstoke for touring again. Thank

you also to Don Fathers for umpiring and to Sue Tidball for scoring. Hopefully we will be able

to return to Budleigh next year to enjoy the finished pavilion!

Basingstoke & N Hants: 215 (Garlick 49, Donaldson 35 – A. James 2/34, Poustie 2/40.

Devon Dumplings: 167 for 9. (Tuohey 45, Bevilaqua 35, N. James 31 – Mndi 4/34, Crawford

2/7.
DT