Croma Vigilant Dumfries blew the Western Premier League wide open after a stunning seventeen run upset of unbeaten defending champions and Scottish Cup holders Clydesdale in their home opener at Nunholm. In one of the most compelling matches you’ll see all season.
After two straight away losses, the home side made two changes to the side with Robert McBride returning and Danny Armstrong straight in off the back of his six wicket haul for the second XI the previous week. Despite the poor weather on Saturday this was the sole survivor of the round of fixtures in the league, however rain did reduce the overs to 33. Captain Corbett Byers for the third straight week, won the toss and elected to bat on an otherwise pristine batting pitch aside from the overhead conditions.
The decision early on was not looking to be a wise when they were 3 down after 11 overs but the partnership of Bellwood and Josh Forsyth steered the home side to a respectable total with a 94 run partnership which featured some immaculate strokes and big hitting which pleased the bumper crowd that had come to get some sort of cricket fix.
Despite Bellwood having a head start on Forsyth the Australian raced ahead of him before hitting one straight up into the safe hands of Scotland international Berrington just short of his fifty on 45. Bellwood continued his good play with contributions from Scott Beveridge and Robert McBride before getting caught off the bowling of Qureshi for 88. Some quick singles and loose bowling from Clydesdale with 15 wides left Croma Vigilant Dumfries with an impressive and entertaining 209-7 after 33, giving them something to defend against a very capable batting side.
A notable factor in the first two games this season was being able to bowl teams out, but Danny Armstrong continued his fine form by getting the dangerous Awais bowled and Guy caught behind by Corbett-Byers. The pressure was built further when Scobie played on to Beveridge for 19 putting the Champs in a tough position early on.
The game was far from over with Scotland Captain Con de Lange joining the inform Berrington who had hit two centuries in his last two games. However the game took a major twist in favour of the home side when Beveridge bowled De Lange third ball. Croma Vigilant Dumfries were able to turn the screw, starving the dangerous Berrington of the strike and bagging more wickets, Chris McCutcheon bowling Farid and getting Krishna caught by Bellwood for 19. Popular figure Tim Hart managed only a brief cameo before going to Alexander for 3 leaving Clydesdale seven wickets down requiring over a run a ball.
In most games this would have been a near unsurmountable total required but with Berrington still in the game it was still very much in the balance and went big taking 7 overs to go from his 50 to yet another ton. He was supported by Pirzada before he went out in the deep to Thomas McBride. With the Wickets running out Berrington had to go big and almost snatched victory from the Jaws of defeat bringing the score to within an achievable total.
The fielding side were starting to get nervy especially when Alan Davidson started bowling loosely at the death with a wide and a no ball but after a brief word of advice from Corbett-Byers he managed to make Berrington mistime one straight to Alexander leading to a widespread outpouring of relief having held on for an invaluable win.
The side can now look up rather than down and hopefully kick on from here on out. Next week they make the trip to South Lanarkshire to face East Kilbride.
Photo:
Chris Bellwood scores a valuable 88 in Croma Vigilant Dumfries victory
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