Dumfries Cricket Club openers bring calm to Langside

On Saturday, Dumfries Cricket Club recorded a convincing nine-wicket win over Langside to remain in second place in the Western Premiership 2.

The visitors opted to bat and the Dumfries pair of James Hobman and Alan Davidson took a wicket each in the opening overs. The introduction of spin brought another wicket in a good spell by Chris Brockwell and Callum Reynolds-Lewis followed by three more wickets, aided by an acrobatic catch by Fergus Bainbridge at extra cover, to reduce Langside to 112 for 9. However, the latter pair added another forty runs until Chris McCutcheon rushed for the final wicket caught and bowled. Hobman also took three wickets as Langside ended on 159 all out.

Then Dumfries openers Chris Bellwood and Adam Malik looked set to improve on that total on their own with some excellent batting around the wicket. Malik was the first to reach his fifty and they were approaching the target when Bellwood was bowled for 74. DG Projects Solutions Player of the Match Adam Malik then led Dumfries to a comfortable win in the 27th over, finishing on 61 not out with Chris Brockwell providing support with a quickfire 17 not out.

On Sunday, Dumfries’ second team also won by a huge margin of 171 runs at Renfrew 3rds. This was set up by their huge first innings total of 256 for 6 from 40 overs. The top order contributed with runs from Jabarkhil, Reed, Cox and 44 from Liam Renou and then 155 for 6 Scott Beveridge and Danny Armstrong added an unbeaten century partnership. Scores of 64 not out from Beveridge and 31 not out from Armstrong took Nunholm to their total of 256.

The Nunholm bowlers then made short work of Renfrew’s reply, led by opening bowler Stuart Alexander, the CMCA Accounting Player of the Match, who took 3 wickets for just three runs and Armstrong claimed a wicket with his second ball. Sultan Kamran spun a web to take 3 wickets and a fine yorker from junior Billy Morgan finished the innings on 79 all out.

Also on Sunday, Nunholm hosted Scotland Under-18s in their cup match against Lancashire Under-18s. With plenty of good cricket on display, Scotland were short of runs as their bowlers took successful wickets, but Lancashire comfortably reached a winning target of 131 for 5.

On Friday Dumfries U13s played a good game against Lanercost in the league, with the match being played down to the last over and the last ball. Lanercost put on a fifty for the first dismissal and their innings was dominated by a hard-hitting innings of 33 out, from just 18 balls, by opener Coulthard. From there Dumfries came back thanks to 3 wickets from Danny Allsop followed by 2 from Lleyton Endredy. A run out and then two wickets, bowled, in his first two balls by Reiff Colchester put the home side on 72 for 8. However, a last wicket partnership of almost thirty put them on 101 all out in the last over.

Dumfries also managed to score a fifty for the first wicket between Finley Trigg and Jack Ellicott, despite some fast bowling. Finley retired on 31 and Jack hit 19. Cory Dawson was dismissed for 10, but Jack Richards helped take the score to 93 before being caught for 20 in the penultimate over. Then a final over of good line and length bowling kept Dumfries at bay as the side finished briefly on 97 for 3.

Dumfries Cricket Club Junior sessions are held on Monday and Wednesday evenings for ages 5 and up. Women’s introductory sessions are also held on Mondays with senior training on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Newcomers are very welcome. For more information about cricket, junior, senior and women, in Nunholm, email (email protected).

Photo: Adam Malik hit 61 not out for Dumfries