SMIT SMASHES STIRLING IN STALEMATE
Stirling 237-8 v Croma Vigilant Dumfries 237-9
Croma Vigilant Dumfries experienced the rare event on Saturday of a tied match with Stirling. Even more surprising as earlier in the season the two teams tied previously.
Stirling chose to Bat first and despite Smit taking an early wicket they progressed nicely. Dumfries were loose with their bowling and also struggled in the field in the first 25 overs. However when Bellwoods spin made the breakthrough just before drink the Dumfries performance improved for the final 20 overs. Spin from both Bellwood and Beveridge put Stirling under real pressure and wickets in the second half of their innings. Beveridge finished with 4 wickets as Stirlings Tweedie finished not out on 111 and put Stirlings total to 237.
The Dumfries chase was underway after teas, with Dawson and Smit dominating the bowling. Dawson fell just short of his 50, whilst Smit stuck in and batted with a mixture of partners in Mascall (22) and Corbett-Byers (30). Smit passed his 50 and all was looking in control as a run rate of 5 an over should have been easily achievable. Smit eventually fell for a well played 85 and it was left to the tail of Dumfries to finish the match off. Pressure began to tell as wickets began to fall and eventually it came down to the last ball with scores tied. Chris McCutcheon tried to work one away from his legs, but unfortunately chipped it up to the waiting fielder and the match was tied.
The calculators are now out for the local side as they still have a possibility of survival within the Premier Division, but a win is required when they visit Poloc on Saturday.
NUNS IN THE RUNS
Nunholm 279 All Out v Williamfield 119 All Out
Nunholm amassed the runs when they visited Williamfield on Saturday as they maintained their promotion push back to the Premier Reserve Division.
Nunholm chose to bat, and got off to the worst possible start as Jeremy Goodin waved his bat on the first ball and snicked to the keeper. Andrew Reed strolled out to middle to join the days captain Robbie Huxtable. Conditions were tricky to begin with as the Williamfield bowlers were extracting a lot of bounce out of the wicket. Nunholm were fortunate as Williamfield became frustrated with the two batsmen the extras began to flow. Reed began to attack the bowling as Huxtable was an excellent partner. Reed passed his 50 and with Huxtable put on a 111 partnership. Huxtable feel just before drinks, and Reed was eventually for 78 after drinks. Adam Elliott and Mark Abnett continued the scoring against the spin bowlers. Elliott got himself out playing onto his helmet and the ball popped up to the keeper for 41, and Abnett panicked on 49 and saw his off stump dislodged. Telfer swung the bat late on and eventually Nunholm were dismissed for 279.
Williamfield got off to a slow but steady start against the opening bowlers of Reynolds-Lewis and Cox, but it was the introduction of Goodin that changed the direction of the match. Goodin took two sharp caught and bowleds in his first two overs. He soon followed that up with a delivery that bowled Brett and some smart keeping by Reed stumped the dangerous Bowes who scored 80 last time the team met. The match was firmly in Nunholm’s control. Hyder Huseein picked up his first Saturday senior wicket and Telfer came on to wipe away the tail with his off spin. Williamfield were all out for 119.
Nunholm turn their attentions to Langloan on Saturday and victory could see the team from Dumfries promoted back to the Premier Reserve Division.
Dumfries U12 Swifts stay the course for Galloway win
Dumfries U12s Swifts v Galloway Women
The Dumfries U12 Swifts team fleet-footed it to Gatehouse on Friday evening for their return match against Galloway Women AllStars. Nairn Cubbon was the star with the bat in setting the target and Cory Dawson with the ball in successfully defending it in another enjoyable contest.
In the cricket soft-ball game Nairn was equal top scorer with Matthew McBurnie (both not out) as the side posted 92 for 9.
In a close finish the eight run victory was thanks to several notable efforts. Fergus Cubbon produced an unplayable maiden over of swing bowling. Matthew delivered a Captain’s over of a double-wicket maiden of spin to clinch victory and Harith Hassan contributed a tidy 4-over spell. The top wicket taker was Cory with three and Aiden Goodin and Munro Cubbon claimed a wicket each.
However the highlight of the evening was the run out – Jak’s fast and accurate throw, cleanly taken by Munro with the bails being removed in a flash, for the Swifts’ high-flier award.
