Devon Dumplings v UCS Gowers
DD 302 for 5 dec. UCS Gowers 257. DD won by 45 runs.
A second trip to Filleigh in a week. The weather was still glorious but thankfully not quite as hot as Tuesday. Again, raising a team had been difficult and UCS Gowers kindly lent us Jonathan Crofts - just as they had last season.
Dumplings won the toss and chose to bat. Unfortunately, the new opening pairing of Jim
Keates and Martin Stewart didn’t last long and after the third over they were both back in the
pavilion with the score on 7 for 2. Miserly bowling by Joel Grabinar had done the damage. He
continued to bowl his 12 overs straight through and no one scored much off him with only
7 scoring shots. At lunch it was 89 for 4 with James Horler (45) and Ed Wilson (9) at the crease.
Thanks to the hospitality of UCS Gowers, everyone tucked into wonderfully delicious wood-fired pizzas.
What followed lunch was a masterclass in batting as Devon Captain, Horler, showed his class in reaching a measured century off 118 balls. But then he really accelerated hitting the next 50 in just 18 balls with five 4s and four 6s. In the meantime,Ed Wilson, watched by his mum, was making his way to 50 off 67 balls with ten 4s. At that point it seemed he might also make a century, but when Captain Joe Craig turned to wicket-keeper Alex Pemberton, all hopes were dashed as Wilson was bowled off his second ball for 86 from just 84 balls. That brought a declaration with the score on 302 for 5, and a fifth wicket partnership of 236.
Thanks to the hospitality of UCS Gowers, everyone tucked into wonderfully delicious wood-fired pizzas.
What followed lunch was a masterclass in batting as Devon Captain, Horler, showed his class in reaching a measured century off 118 balls. But then he really accelerated hitting the next 50 in just 18 balls with five 4s and four 6s. In the meantime,Ed Wilson, watched by his mum, was making his way to 50 off 67 balls with ten 4s. At that point it seemed he might also make a century, but when Captain Joe Craig turned to wicket-keeper Alex Pemberton, all hopes were dashed as Wilson was bowled off his second ball for 86 from just 84 balls. That brought a declaration with the score on 302 for 5, and a fifth wicket partnership of 236.
Giles Bashford and Jim Keates opened the bowling and after just three overs, Keates had
dismissed both openers without conceding a run, and they were 17 for 2 off 6 overs. Tidball
turned to guest Crofts, his team mates hit a few boundaries off him, but he responded by claiming three wickets. Martin Stewart bowled just 4 overs, during which time he picked up three
wickets and UCS were then 108 for 8 in the 24th over. Joel Grabinar was next in and he
repeatedly found the boundary until he ran out of partners, stranded on 97 no from 57 balls with 16 4s and two 6s.
A great game in a lovely location. Thanks to Filleigh for hosting it.
DD 302 for 5 dec. (James Horler 162*, Ed Wilson 86 – Joel Grabinar 2-17. UCS Gowers 257
(Joel Grabinar 97* Ali Kazimi 44 – Martin Stewart 3-23, Jonathan Crofts 3-55.
WH