Carlisle Under 13: 67/8 v Dumfries Under 13: 68/2

On Friday Dumfries travelled to Edenside for their inaugural game in the North Cumbria Thirteens’ League. The match was against Carlisle Blue, which is their younger team.
Despite being one or two players light, the Dumfries youngsters travelled with a good attitude – confident of giving a good account of themselves and determined to have a good time. They were successful on both counts.
Bowling first they were quickly on the front foot, James Hobman taking a wicket with his second ball and continuing with an accurate and penetrating spell to reduce the Carlisle side to 19 for 5 from the 8 overs he shared with his opening partner, Katy Anderson.
Carlisle then made something of a recovery through some positive batting but a direct-hit run-out from Max C-B, a couple of wickets from Fergus Bainbridge and a miserly 4 overs from Niamh Muir kept them to 67 from their 20 overs.
As with the bowling, the batting got off to a great start – this time it was the other James – James Little who did the damage. Boundaries came from the first 2 balls and, like his namesake, he was relentless, bringing up his retiral with a maximum in the eighth over.
With the temperature dropping like a stone the spectators were glad of the 5-wicket victory, especially the six-and-a-half overs to spare!

SATURDAY

Croma Vigilant Dumfries lose in tight match

Croma Vigilant Dumfries started slowly in their first home match of the season and left it too late to gain victory against West of Scotland CC.

The toss always proves vital in early season matches as the wicket was set fair for a bowling attack.  Croma Vigilant Dumfries captain Chris McCutcheon unfortunately lost the toss and were immediately put into bat.  It was difficult conditions with the ball moving about in the air and off the green wicket and West of Scotland struck 3 early wickets leaving Croma Vigilant Dumfries 31 for 3.  Andrew Mascall and Scott Beveridge arrived at the wicket and were able to steady the ship with solid batting performances.  Both men passed their 50s whilst putting on a 120 run partnership.  The scene was set for Croma Vigilant Dumfries to push on for a large total, however ask they attacked wickets fell.  Dumfries eventually all out for 164.

West of Scotland set about the chase in confident mood and got a flying start as the bowlers failed to put the batsmen under enough pressure.  It was not until the 20^th over that Croma Vigilant Dumfries stepped up with the ball.  West of Scotland were unable to cope as Beveridge, Niall Alexander, Alan Davidson and Jesse Smit all got their bowling lines correct.  The score was slowly ticking along and wickets were falling at regular periods.  Alas it was all too late, the early runs meant West of Scotland were able to tip toe over the line in the 48^th over, leaving Dumfries with maximum point.  Croma Vigilant Dumfries will travel to Prestwick who were 2018 Scotland National champions.

Bowlers dominate in Kilmarnock

Nunholm 89 all out v Kilmarnock 72 all out

Nunholm travelled to Kilmarnock with hopes of banishing the disappointing defeat last week in the first match of the season. It was the bowlers who managed to steal the show on a wicket which proved tricky for all batsmen. Nunholm were able to travel back to Dumfries with 25 points and getting their league campaign up and running for 2018.
Kilmarnock won the toss and elected to bowl, this was an easy decision to make and while Adam Elliott managed to dominate the opening bowlers, the long grass and big boundaries meant very few fours were able to be scored. When Kilmarnock did make the breakthrough they managed to get wickets in clusters. However Nunholm managed to avoid the collapse that befell last weeks performance. Elliot scored a fine 30 and when he went, it was left for Ronan Dunbar and Mark Irwin to steady the innings. Blocking straight deliveries and smacking wide ones to keep the board ticking along. A few more wickets fell and Nunholm were dismissed for 89, however to survive 42 overs on the wicket was the key to this match.
Kilmarnock came out looking confident and playing some aggressive shots, it was however to be their undoing. Callum Reynolds-Lewis was extracting some awkward bounce and the opener chipped up to Patrick Corkery. Robert Huxtable then replaced captain James Cox at the athletics end, and another ambitious shot from Kilmarnock saw a good catch from Mark Irwin taking a ball which came down with snow on it. It was Robert Huxtable who then took 3 quick wickets to rip out the middle order for just 1 run and leaving Kilmarnock in trouble. They managed to rebuild but Sam Thornley made the break through taking what appeared the last recognised batsman for Kilmarnock. A bouyant Nunholm went on to close out the match with 2 excellent run outs. Kilmarnock finished on 73.
Man of the Match: Adam Elliott, for a valuable 30 run innings on a difficult wicket

SUNDAY

Sunshine for Second Success on Sunday

Croma Vigilant Dumfries Sunday XI travelled to Keswick in the Eden Valley Sunday League and again came away with a victory. Keswick won the toss and elected to field on a dry low bouncing wicket. Dumfries sent in the opening pair of Ronan Dunbar and James Little who set about the task of giving Dumfries a solid start. The outfield was quick and ball was flying to boundary off both batsmen. It was unfortunately Ronan Dunbar who fell first in the 20th over as he left a high full toss which clattered into the stumps. James Little was batting with confidence and he was able to work his way to a well deserved maiden senior team 50 and retire. The remaining batsmen entered the fray and attempted to push the score along quickly and whilst some did it better than others, Croma Vigilant finished on 157-6.
Keswick also found batting easy on the wicket and the first drinks break arrived and they were on target with 58 without loss. Captain Andrew Reed turned to Danny Armstrong to make the break through and he obliged picking up the opener. The breakthrough gave confidence in the field and it a steady flow of wickets which followed. Fielding was tight and the run rate was climbing by each over, Patrick Corkery and Andrew Reed were bowling tight lines, but dismissals had dried up, until Andrew Reed took a rocket of a catch of his own bowling. Reed turned back to his strike bowlers in Callum Reynolds-Lewis and Danny Armstrong and the latter took 3 more wickets. 4 overs remained and the run rate was now at 6 an over, and the youngster Sean Thornley was bought on to bowl the last few overs. The first delivery went for a scratchy four, but a wicket at the start of the final over meant 12 of 3 balls would see Keswick walk away with the victory. A scrambled two left K Link on 54 runs and needing 10 off the last two balls. A fine yorker at the toes left the batsmen with no chance to strike a much need boundary, and Sean Thornley bowled out the last balls to see Croma Vigilant Dumfries Sunday XI with a second victory.
Man of the Match: James Little for his valuable 50 runs