Devon Dumplings v Sydney Classics

Wednesday 25 July 2018 at Knightshayes

Sydney 197-2 DD 179 ao

 

For the first season in thirty years the Dumplings found themselves hosting teams from Australia. Sydney Classics are a touring side of over fifties, whose energy and enthusiasm for the game knows no bounds.

A crowded Dumplings fixture list resulted in four of the tourists becoming honorary Dumplings. The visitors elected to bat and the hot sun was tempered by a cooling breeze.

The opening overs saw our newest recruit, Paul Adams, remove the tour manager rather too quickly. There was a suggestion he might end up carrying the bags. However after that initial success runs started to flow. Three successive batsmen retired having passed 30 [runs] and the second wicket did not fall until Paul Berman bowled Viner in the 32nd over. That was the last wicket to fall and Sydney eventually ran out of overs with the total 197-2. Smart keeping by Antipodean Kim Taylor had limited the extras and tidy spells from Mark Floyer, Joel Murphy and Kanda Kumar had given Dumplings an eminently reachable target.

Dumplings opened the innings with two guests, Andrew Jackson and Kim Taylor. They put on 41 runs at a good rate but were then both out in the 11th and 12th over, and this was compounded by Steve Preston falling first ball to an astonishing catch at point from a shot that almost knocked the fielder backwards. Gary Abraham and Kanda Kumar added 63 at 5 an over but then they also were both out almost simultaneously. Joel Murphy and Richard Cragg retrenched, adding 30 until Richard was trapped LBW and soon after Joel retired on 30. Wickets then toppled regularly leaving Joel to return at 164-9 with only Paul Berman for company.

They did manage to add 15 hectic runs, but needing 18 from the last over resulted in Joel not quite making his ground for another scrambled two.

A very sociable session after the game elicited several conversations between players in both teams who turned out to have anglo-australian connections. There was the presentation of a pennant and photograph album to the Club by the Sydney Classics along with a limited edition cap.

Paul Berman as President presented Douglas Latto with a Dumplings tie and a copy of “Fifty Shades of Green” and thanked them for having not only provided the manpower but also the spirit needed for a totally English day’s cricket.

He referred to the absence of the one person who had been chiefly responsible for organising the day’s events, Peter Jolliffe, who was currently on the high seas.

As a token of the Club’s thanks for the volunteers’ contribution he also awarded Kim Taylor a copy of ” Fifty Shades of Green” for both keeping wicket and then opening the innings.

Sydney Classics 197-2 ( J Price 30 n.o.; Ragavan 33n.o. : M Irvin 32 n.o.; R Nes 31 n.o.; M Bury 24n.o.)

Dumplings 179 AO ( A Jackson 31; G Abrahams 27; KandaKumar 29; J Murphy 44; Irvin 22-2; Ragavan 24-2; Nes 24-2)

Ragavan was Man of the Match