Devon Dumplings v Exeter CC

With the dry weather continuing, Exeter’s outfield was looking parched as the players arrived for what turned out to be a great game of cricket.   Wye Rustics having cried off, Graham White raised two evenly- matched sides, mostly from the Exeter ranks and with Dumplings on both sides! Charles Clist captained for Exeter and James Horler for Dumplings. Exeter won the toss and decided to bat.

Marcus Neary, in only his third game of the season after returning from knee surgery, bowled Jeremy Tojy in his first over. This brought Exeter’s overseas, Sam Mycock, to the crease and he slowly made his mark in the match, scoring steadily . He was well supported by Zach Vukusic who made 60 before Adam Fradgley finally ended their 169 run fourth wicket partnership, with Vukusic being caught by Harry Sharp. Mycock retired soon after on 137 and it was left to Sam Read to push the score on to 291 before Horler bowled Daniel Stark. That brought the declaration just before 3:00pm.

Dumplings enjoyed a 58 first wicket partnership between youngsters Harry Sharp and Josh Paget until Harrison Gribble ended Sharp’s innings. Progress was on the slow side, and with the last hour just starting they had only reached 99, albeit only two wickets down. By now Ollie Gribble was in and making hay with his brother’s bowling. His innings gathered momentum with repeated boundaries - he reached his 50 off only 37 balls. The score was 150 for 3 with 15 overs left. By now Horler was in, and after two dot balls he then scored 36 off his next 15 balls before being bowled by Mycock with the score on 257. But it was Gribble’s innings which really made the spectators sit up and watch. They included several Patrons and former players as they had been invited for a special tea in the afternoon. Alphington’s overseas Wessel Oosthuizen joined Gribble and together they chased down the runs with 3 overs to spare. Gribble led the players off the field having orchestrated a wonderful display of how to chase down a large total. He finished with 117* off 83 balls.

While it was a day dominated by batting, tea saw the presentation of the 2024 bowling trophy to Aashay Dube in his first Dumplings appearance this year.

Many thanks to Graham White for all his planning and effort.

Exeter: 291 for 7 dec. (Sam Mycock 137, Jach Vukusic 60, Sam Read 41no – Marcus Neary 2/15)  

DD:      292 for 4 (Ollie Gribble 117*, Josh Paget 47 – Danile Stark 1/17)

WH