Devon Dumplings v ANNUAL REPORT
P24 W6 L5 D4 Can/Aban 9
I am pleased to be able to present my third report as Keeper of the Records. I am only sorry that the news is only marginally better than last year and that only because I am recording one win where the match was a tad bizarre.
We had 5 fewer fixtures arranged than in 2013 despite adding 3 new fixtures and those missing were because of various reasons, mainly down to issues with our opponents. The “absent sides” were: Glamorgan Nomads, Exeter University (who we only played in 2013 as Nomads cancelled at the last minute), Blundell’s School, Old Blundellians, Old Honitonians, Sou’westers, and Futura Sports. I am particularly saddened by the absence of the two fixtures at Blundell’s as they are both of long standing and good fun. I hope that this can be remedied in the future. The new fixtures, only one of which was played, were with Taunton College, Water Kloof and Turnham Green and Poly More of those later.
The 2014 season came 100 years after the last tour undertaken by the club and I am delighted that our “Great War Centenary Tour” came about as planned and was a success for all those who attended. We travelled to Oxford in August playing Incogniti, against whom the August 1914 fixture was cancelled as the War had started, The Frogs and South Oxford Amateurs. I incorporate the individual report of the tour within this full report in chronological order. Thank you to all those who made it such fun!
Of the 11 “all day” matches 3 were cancelled/abandoned, 3 were won, 1 lost (in a rain affected match that became 32 overs a side) and 4 drawn. Batting first was common again this year in the declaration games but on the only two occasions when we batted second victory was achieved! Perhaps Bradman’s advice needs to be reconsidered?
In terms of batting and bowling the bat had the advantage this year with two double centuries and four centuries by Dumplings versus two centuries by opponents and only two “five fors” by Dumplings, both at 5 for 30 by Dan Beatty and Jake Choules. The doubles were both by an elegant and powerful young batsman Zubayr Hamza, only 18 years of age and batting with maturity belying his years. I was saddened to have missed his first double (on our 31st Wedding Anniversary) but was delighted to witness his second in victory against Warwickshire Imps at Sidmouth. Two of his sixes landed directly on the beach!
The four centuries were scored by four individuals, Chris Sleep, Matt Nichols, Vrish Singh and Dan Pyle. I need to check whether Dan is the youngest centurion for Dumplings as he is playing in the Devon under 16 age group. I am already pretty sure that Zubayr is the youngest double double-centurion in one season without checking further! In addition Dumplings scored 16 half-centuries with Dan Beatty scoring four of them in his 6 innings!
98 players turned out this year with 58 only playing one match. 17 of the 98 “did not bat” with Bernie Wilson failing to bat in 8 matches! We had 64 bowlers only 18 of who bowled 10 or more overs, with 19 taking no wickets and only three taking 5 or more wickets in the season.
Finally my highlight of the season was the unbroken partnership of 203 by Hamza and Nichols that won the match versus Warwickshire Imps chasing down 295 to win!
Dr Peter Jolliffe, Keeper of the Records
We had 5 fewer fixtures arranged than in 2013 despite adding 3 new fixtures and those missing were because of various reasons, mainly down to issues with our opponents. The “absent sides” were: Glamorgan Nomads, Exeter University (who we only played in 2013 as Nomads cancelled at the last minute), Blundell’s School, Old Blundellians, Old Honitonians, Sou’westers, and Futura Sports. I am particularly saddened by the absence of the two fixtures at Blundell’s as they are both of long standing and good fun. I hope that this can be remedied in the future. The new fixtures, only one of which was played, were with Taunton College, Water Kloof and Turnham Green and Poly More of those later.
The 2014 season came 100 years after the last tour undertaken by the club and I am delighted that our “Great War Centenary Tour” came about as planned and was a success for all those who attended. We travelled to Oxford in August playing Incogniti, against whom the August 1914 fixture was cancelled as the War had started, The Frogs and South Oxford Amateurs. I incorporate the individual report of the tour within this full report in chronological order. Thank you to all those who made it such fun!
Of the 11 “all day” matches 3 were cancelled/abandoned, 3 were won, 1 lost (in a rain affected match that became 32 overs a side) and 4 drawn. Batting first was common again this year in the declaration games but on the only two occasions when we batted second victory was achieved! Perhaps Bradman’s advice needs to be reconsidered?
In terms of batting and bowling the bat had the advantage this year with two double centuries and four centuries by Dumplings versus two centuries by opponents and only two “five fors” by Dumplings, both at 5 for 30 by Dan Beatty and Jake Choules. The doubles were both by an elegant and powerful young batsman Zubayr Hamza, only 18 years of age and batting with maturity belying his years. I was saddened to have missed his first double (on our 31st Wedding Anniversary) but was delighted to witness his second in victory against Warwickshire Imps at Sidmouth. Two of his sixes landed directly on the beach!
The four centuries were scored by four individuals, Chris Sleep, Matt Nichols, Vrish Singh and Dan Pyle. I need to check whether Dan is the youngest centurion for Dumplings as he is playing in the Devon under 16 age group. I am already pretty sure that Zubayr is the youngest double double-centurion in one season without checking further! In addition Dumplings scored 16 half-centuries with Dan Beatty scoring four of them in his 6 innings!
98 players turned out this year with 58 only playing one match. 17 of the 98 “did not bat” with Bernie Wilson failing to bat in 8 matches! We had 64 bowlers only 18 of who bowled 10 or more overs, with 19 taking no wickets and only three taking 5 or more wickets in the season.
Finally my highlight of the season was the unbroken partnership of 203 by Hamza and Nichols that won the match versus Warwickshire Imps chasing down 295 to win!
Dr Peter Jolliffe, Keeper of the Records