Devon Dumplings v Nomads

The second game of the Tour saw Matt Nichols ask the visitors to bat in bright sunshine on yet another hot summer’s day.

A very cautious start by Nomads saw them to 20 before the first wicket fell, but then three more fell with the total on 31 and at 46-6 Nichols was facing the possibility of the game becoming a two-innings affair. Both he and Aashay Dube had taken three wickets. Even the introduction of septuagenarians Paul Berman and Bernie Wilson failed to ease the situation (combined 18 overs for 50 runs and two wickets) and apart from Bharat Ramanathan ( 35) and Andy Penn ( 26) there was no significant contribution by any of the other players. Nomads were all out for 143 from 42.5 overs, which was disappointing for an all-day game.

Dumplings’ innings started with entertaining cameos from Sam Read (20 off 8) and Ben Abrahams (18 off 24) whilst a steady Tom Cates anchored the innings. Dube came in at 69-3 and was clearly on a mission to reduce the Club’s supply of balls as he plastered boundaries all around the ground. In a stand of 53 his contribution of 47 in 26 balls included four 4s and four 6s. It was left to the sober Tom Cates (31 from 47) and Kai Croft to add the outstanding 22 runs needed to reach an early end to the day’s play. Ben Butcher had taken three wickets though at a high price.

Thanks were due to Neville Pritchard for taking on the task of being umpire at both ends.

Nomads: 142ao (B Ramanathan35; A Dube 16-3; M Nichols 30-3)

DD:           143-4 ( A Dube 47 T Cates31*; B Butcher 71-3)
PMB