Dumfries won their opening match of the season with a resounding 163 run win over visitors Gala in their home friendly at Nunholm on Saturday. In a crowded field young all-rounder Sean Thornely was the Your Move Dumfries Player of the Match.
Skipper Chris Brockwell opted to bat first and personally took advantage with a succession of nine boundaries as he raced towards fifty, until he edged behind for 45. Then Adam Malik and Max Corbett-Byers combined for a ninety-run partnership. Gala bowled steadily but nevertheless Dumfries sustained a good run rate of six an over.
Malik looked settled after a winter season in Pakistan and adjusted to radically different conditions to score at a run a ball. He accelerated to his retiral not out fifty by lifting a six over square leg to take the total to 150. Max then followed him with 52 not out with the highlight being a guided square cut for four.
Gala fought back with three wickets in the final ten overs of the 40 over contest but Sean Thornely stroked several cover drives to keep the score moving and then Mark Abnett also added impetus with fifty runs added in the final four overs which included his final ball six for 20 not out to reach 250. Sean ended with an elegant 38 not out.
Gala needed their top order to fire as had the top four batters for Dumfries. However opening bowlers Callum Reynolds-Lewis and James Hobman, showing his winter training with Scotland under-17s, made things difficult. Callum struck with an LBW with his fourth ball and James did the same to have Gala at 12 for 2 wickets.
Eyre and Ponneri revived visitor fortunes as they went past fifty. However Sean Thornely replaced fellow Wallace Hall School bowler Hobman and succeeded in bowling Ponneri and managed the same to the bewildered replacement batter.
Dumfries turned to spin and Uday Reddipalli then did for the Gala day with a controlled spell of six overs, three wickets for 6, all bowled. The visitors battled on but the innings ended after 34 overs after a bowled by Tommy McGrath, a great Hobman slip catch off Reynolds-Lewis, and Hobman claimed a deserved final wicket LBW to complete a reply of 87 all out and a convincing win in a useful ‘blow the cobwebs off’ outing.
The players were also pleased to be able to congratulate Chris McBride after the game on his Scotland debut on Friday as he turned up, a bit jet lagged, to watch the closing stages.
New players, of any age from 5 upwards, are very welcome to come along to the club’s various sessions and can contact the club on [email protected] or via www.dumfriescricketclub.com.
Dumfries beat Gala by 163 runs
Your Move Dumfries 250 for 4 (40 overs)
Adam Malik 55no, Max Corbett-Byers 52no, Chris Brockwell 45, Sean Thornely 38no
Gala 87 all out (34 overs)
Uday Reddipalli 3 for 6, James Hobman 2 for 17, Callum Reynolds-Lewis 2 for 10,
Sean Thornely 2 for 12, Tommy McGrath 1 for 10
Photo: Dumfries Player of the Match Sean Thornely scored not out runs and took wickets
