Devon Dumplings v Arden Taverners'

Monday 19 June 2017 at Knightshayes

DD 225-8 Arden 227-3

 The first Dumplings fixture to be played this year after the cancellation of others for various reasons, got under way on time at 11.30 hrs in record level hot weather at Heathcoat in a 40 over a side match where Arden won the toss and inserted Dumplings. Grant Stone, a lefthanded bat from Port Elizabeth, made his debut appearance for the club opening with Joel 18/10/2017 2 Seward, also a left hander. Instant confusion for our scorers as they did not take the expected positions of No.1 and No.2 bat causing problems of recognising who was scoring what and when! Dumplings, please consider your scorers as the job is hard enough without added unnecessary complications!

 Stone dominated the opening partnership of 57 with 42 in 35 balls including 7 fours and one six. A lively debut indeed. Seward (24) was joined by Dan Pyle and remained the supporting partner as they added 63 in the next 10 overs reaching 120/2 in the 23rd over with Pyle (72) striking eleven fours and two sixes reaching his 50 off 39 balls in 52 minutes. In the final 17 overs Dumplings added another 105 runs being held back by a good spell from Arden’s 7th bowler L. Williams who took 4/32 off 7 overs. Richard Pyle hit 25 before being caught at long off and Niall Leahy hit a lusty 14* off 11 balls at the end as they reached 225/8 before the meal break.

 Thank you to Tony McIntyre and his colleagues for an excellent lunch taken before Arden started their response with their Australian debutant K. Hines finding the scorching weather to his liking featuring in an opening partnership unbroken at 10 overs at 82 and which terminated at 109 in the 17th over with the loss of H. Everitt for 21. 

The introduction of spin from Bernie Wilson (1/25) and Joel Seward (0/38) slowed progress but could not drag the game back towards Dumplings as Hines and A. Hunt (44) added another 75 runs in the next 13 overs. Hines completed his century in 81 balls and 88 minutes with 20 fours and no sixes before being last out for 115 leaving just 15 needed for Arden’s first win against Dumplings in four attempts. The victory was completed with a six off the Dumplings most successful bowler, Grant (2/22) and with 28 balls to spare.

   D.D. 225 for 8 (40 overs. Dan Pyle 72, Grant Stone 42) LOST to Arden Taverners 227 for 3 (35.2 overs. K. Hines 115, G. Stone 2-22).