Devon Dumplings v Oxford Tour

Tuesday 11 August 2015 at Queen's College Oxford

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 For the second time in 101 years Devon Dumplings toured and once more to Oxford to play at The Queen’s College Ground and stay at Pembroke College. Twelve playing tourists from 2014 came again and were accompanied by nine returning officials and spectators. We were joined by three new playing members. Obviously if people enjoy an experience they want to repeat it and that worked really well this year!

 This year we had 4 day visitor players. Matt Nicholls, accompanied by Jonathan Bennett, was released by “The Barmy Army” on the Tuesday (perhaps it was felt that DDCC were also barmy?). Dominic Tuohey appeared on Wednesday and on Thursday Dan Beatty came all the way from Australia in a show of solidarity! (I had probably better admit that he was already in Europe for a brief visit BUT it shows overseas Dumplings what is possible if you try hard enough!)  

 11th August at The Queen’s College Ground: D.D. 242 for 7 (50.5 overs. B Van Nierkerk 49, J Meredith 27, A Ramcharran 24, K Griggs 92) BEAT Incogniti 197 a.o. (40.3 overs. M Nicholls 2-1, B Van Nierkerk 2-33, P Jordan 2-31) by 45 runs. 

Against our long time opponents Incogniti Dumplings won the toss and batted in warm weather. The top three put on 59 with Ben Van Nierkerk going on to 49 before the middle order took the score to 123 in the 28th over and Kobi Griggs started his career as a Dumplings tourist. In 82 minutes and off 72 balls he scored 92 with 11 4s and 2 6s. His dismissal in the 51st over aided the Captain, Bernie Wilson, in his decision to declare (it is always difficult when someone is approaching such a milestone!). Both Kobi and Ben were later fined for jug avoidance! The Incogniti found their reply difficult against tight and accurate bowling from Dumplings’ opening bowlers. Adam Ramcharran (1-20) and Matt Nichols (2-1) and then spinner Jake Choules reduced them to 31 for 4 after 10 overs. They were given respectability by their middle order with Smith (46), McAvan (48) and then with a wag from the late order. Dumplings used 9 bowlers in all with nobody taking more than 2 wickets. A good solid performance by all. Oh and thank you to Incogs for the post lunch Port!

 12th August 2015 at The Queen’s College Ground: DD. 226 for 5 (45.1 overs. B Van Nierkerk 122, K Griggs 55) BEAT The Frogs 222-8 dec (57 overs. B Wilson 3-31, P Jordan 2- 33) by 5 wickets. 

The Frogs won the toss and batted in cloudy weather getting off to an opening partnership of 77 in 15 overs. Another wicket fell at the same score before they progressed to 111 losing two again with a golden duck! Baker top scored for Frogs at 45 and Bernie Wilson led the bowlers with 3-31 nobly assisted by Paul Jordan with 2-33. The Frogs lower order did well with the unbroken 9th wicket adding 34 taking them to 222 after 57 overs. The innings was disturbed by an injury to Adam Ramcharran our keeper who was hit by the bat on the side of his jaw on a very late cut by a batsman. He was substituted and taken to Hospital by Brian Smith for X-rays but he happily was given the all clear and a straw to “eat” his Tour Dinner! In Dumplings’ reply numbers 1,3 and 4 made 3 between them leaving Ben Van Nierkerk (122*) and Kobi Griggs (55) to break the back of the chase with their partnership of 133 in 77 minutes. Van Nierkerk brought the game home with his 21st four and with 5 balls left to be bowled ably assisted by skipper Dominic Tuohey (20). A close and exciting game enjoyed by all and notable for the first centurion on a Dumplings Tour in 101 years. This was pointed out at the Tour Dinner that evening at “The Head of the River”. 

13th August 2015 at The Queen’s College Ground: D.D. 177a.o. (38.4 overs. B Van Nierkerk 40, G White 55, K Griggs 31) LOST to South Oxford Amateurs 179 for 4 (33.5 overs. C Cabborn 1-32, K Griggs 1-18, D Beatty 1-26, P Jordan 1-19) by 6 wickets.

 Captain Graham White won the toss and elected to bat under threatening skies when only one, unplayable, swinging ball was bowled uprooting our opener’s off stump before the rain came holding up play for 16 minutes! White (55) walked to the wicket to join Ben Van Nierkerk at 3-6 in the second over! They put on 57 before Van Nierkerk was dismissed and then there was little progress until White was joined by Kobi Griggs in another stand of 62. The last three wickets fell in quick time for 2 runs leaving Dumplings with a total that would be hard to defend. Dumplings briefly had hope when they bowled reducing SOA to 13 for 2 in the sixth over. Then 3 partnerships of 80, 45 and an unbroken 41 gave SOA the win in brief time and only 33.5 overs. W Sensecall’s 82* was the foundation of the win. Four Dumplings bowlers took one wicket each. A first loss on Tour in 101 years but it had to happen at some time. It was good to see Graham get runs on tour – he plans more in future years! 

 I must record my thanks to the touring party who again made the three day tour such a success and all looked after me so well: Paul Berman, Graham White, Jake Choules, Dan Beatty, Dominic Tuohey, Matt Nichols, Paul Jordan, Bernie Wilson, Johnny Meredith, Jonathan Bennett, Christian Cabburn, Jamie Khan, Ben Van Nierkerk, Kobi Griggs, Adam Ramcharran, David Salter, Sally Salter, Derek Hardy, Wendy Hardy, April Marjoram, Judy Jolliffe, Brian Smith and Jean Smith. Martin Cross and his team at the ground looked after us royally and Ellen Brady and Tom Parrfitt arranged for our care at Pembroke College which again proved such a great place to stay.