Dumfries Cricket Club: Nunholm Knights continue their Charge
The Nunholm Knights won once more on Saturday at Dumfries Cricket Club in their intra-club series against the Dumfries Dragons. The experienced made their mark with the Ashleigh Building Player of the Match going to James Cox but the teenagers from the club figured prominently as well.
The Dragons side batted first in ideal sunny cricket weather. James Hobman struck first for the Knights with a catch held by James Cox at mid-wicket. The all star team of Andrew Dawson and Andy Reed were progressing nicely with a series of boundaries until Dawson, on 26, got a leading edge to give Callum Reynolds-Lewis a caught and bowled. Reed had survived the Knights gully-trap theory only to offer another catch to Cox at extra-cover off the bowling of Scott Beveridge.
Then came the significant partnership of the innings between the in-form Alan Davidson and sixteen year-old Sean Thornely. However the innings’ progress might have been quite different when Davidson was somehow dropped off the first ball from Orla Montgomery.
The view from codger’s corner was that this was the best that Sean had perhaps ever batted as Davidson guided him through his innings. He was only undone when on 21 he was undermined by the even younger efforts of Nairn Cubbon, on as the partnership breaker, with a sharp caught and bowled, which was one of two wickets taken in the innings by the Cubbon twins with Munro claiming one as well.
Max Corbett-Byers joined Davidson for another impressive partnership, with Hyder Hussain and Aiden Goodin bowling steadily in tandem, until Davidson reached the match retiral score in hitting 51 not out. The Dragons had progressed at around four an over and then lost three more wickets, sacrified for runs, in the final overs for a final total of 168 for 7 in 40 overs.
The Knights were 3-0 up in the series, despite a good match-up on paper, so with a good total on the board it seemed to be now or never for the Dragons. They got off to a reasonable start as Stuart Alexander and Sean Thornely kept the reliable opening partnership of James Little and Mat Williams down to quick run singles. Then Dragon Davidson came on to bowl and Alan dismissed both openers, 36 for 2.
However then the fired up Dragons were doused by a match winning partnership from doughty Davie Davidson and Knights debutant James Cox. In what was a controversial piece of midweek transfer business Cox had been mysteriously transmogrified from a Dragon to a Knight.
Suitably motivated, Cox then proceeded to claim the Ashleigh Building Player of the Match with an innings of 52 not out. He and fellow Knight doughty Davie applied their experience and steadily moved towards the Holy Grail of the winning target. Cox in particular punished the loose deliveries with ten boundaries.
Matthew McBurnie and Rosy Ryan did both bowl tight spells, aided by a fine fielding effort particularly from Adam Malik. However a wicket was needed from somewhere to halt the Knights’ progress. Davidson retired (53 not out) as did Cox (52 not out) and their opponents’ hope was that the later batters might mess up with overs left dwindling. The Dragons did succeed in claiming two more wickets but the winning runs were successfully hit with two overs left.
However there had been just time for the Play of the Day as Orla Montgomery on-drove Stuart Alexander for four with a sumptious straight drive. He sought therapy shortly afterwards with a post-match drink.
The Knights now lead four zero in the Your Move Dumfries Round Table Series but the Dragons get some respite with a change of format with both teams pitted against Galloway in a T20 tussle at Nunholm on Saturday.
Your Move Dumfries Round Table Series – Round 4
Nunholm Knights beat Dumfries Dragons by 6 wickets
Dumfries Dragons 168 for 7 (40 overs)
A Davidson 51rtd, A Dawson 26, Max Corbett-Byers 21no
1 wicket each to J Hobman, C Reynolds-Lewis, S Beveridge, N Cubbin, M Cubbon, D Davidson
Nunholm Knights 171 for 4 (37.4 overs)
J Cox 52rtd, D Davidson 53rtd, J Little 17
A Davidson 2 for 5, M McBurnie 1 for 18, S Alexander 1 for 28
Ashleigh Building Player of the Match: James Cox
Youth Cricket: Junior Dragons Roar back to Win
The Dumfries Junior Dragons succeeded in bouncing back on Sunday from a loss last week to go 3-1 up in their series against the Nunholm Junior Knights at Dumfries Cricket Club.
The bat dominated in this encounter, albeit only after Sean Thornely hit the off stump, after a misjudged first ball leave, when the Knights batted first. James Little and Max Corbett-Byers provided the bulwark of the innings with the big partnership. Each retired not out with a well earned score of 30. Katy Anderson threw in a boundary flourish to deep square leg as the Knight finished with 90 for 6 in the twenty overs. Sean Thornely took three wickets, Emma Fordyce two and Cory Dawson bowled another.
Openers Fergus Bainbridge and Aiden Goodin settled in for the Juniors Dragons with the former punishing some full tosses as the bowlers found their length. He rapidly surged to a score of 33 retired including the one six of the game. Goodin was joined by fellow Dragon James Hobman and they steadily devoured the required runs. Aiden also found the boundary with his final scoring shot to reach 33 retired. Niamh Muir and Hobman then ushered their side over the line in the seventeenth over and with no dismissals. Play continued to bat out the overs and James finished with a useful knock of 25 not out.
The Coach’s Player of the Match was Emma Fordyce for her four overs with two wickets, bowled, on a day for the batters, and for her fielding in only her second game back.
Sessions for U15s (Tue/Thu), U13s (Mon/Wed) age groups take place during the week at Dumfries Sports Club. Contact Dumfries Cricket Club for information.
Your Move Junior Round Table Series – Round 4
Dumfries Junior Dragons beat Junior Knights
Junior Knights 90 for 6 (20 overs)
James Little 30rtd, Max Corbett-Byers 30rtd
Sean Thornely 3 overs 3 for 7, Emma Fordyce 4 overs 2 for 16, Cory Dawson 1 for 7
Junior Dragons 109 for 0 (20 overs)
Fergus Bainbridge 33 rtd, Aiden Goodin 33rtd, James Hobman 25no
Player of the Match: Emma Fordyce
Junior Cricket: Bright sparks fire for Dumfries U11 Dynamos
The sun beat down at Nunholm for the Saturday soft ball game for Dumfries U11s Dynamos. The now seasoned siblings, Cubbons, and Middlemiss’s competed well and were added to with Lachlan Osmond being joined by sister Molly on her debut in the middle in a plucky performance with bat and ball. The Coach’s Play of the Day on a fun morning was Zack Bass’s first four which was hit over the square leg boundary.
Thanks go to the parents for helping to keep all the players organised. Soft ball cricket sessions for under 11s take place at Dumfries Sports Club on Mondays, 6-7pm with the next game this Sunday morning. Contact Dumfries Cricket Club for details.
Evening Cricket Sessions
Training sessions take place during the week at Dumfries Sports Club, Nunholm, subject to permitted guidelines. These include junior age-group sessions (U11/U13/U15), the club Monday 5-6pm All Stars sessions for 5 to 8 year olds, and senior and womens & girls sessions. Contact the Club at [email protected] or via www.dumfriescricketclub.com .
