Bellwood hits out in his man of the match innings of 93 not out

Despite the wettest August on record APD Dumfries did play their league showdown against second placed RH Corstorphine in National League Division 2 at Nunholm. The prize for the winner was the place in the promotion play-off match for Division 1.

Dumfries won convincingly by 87 runs, thanks to a match winning 93 not out from Chris Bellwood. He joined Davie Davidson after an early wicket to put together a partnership of just under a century which ended when Davidson was out for 29. Two more wickets fell rapidly and, at 115 for 4, three wickets had gone for twelve runs with 35 overs already bowled.

Dawson holds on to the winning catch

The squeeze was being applied by the spinners Holstein and Mommsen. Already a rain interruption had reduced the match to 48 overs a side and when another came after 40 overs Dumfries were just on 132.

Tea was taken during the rain break and eight overs still remained. Stuart Corbett-Byers hit a crucial run-a-ball 37 including two sixes to produce a more testing total of 190 for 5. Bellwood finished on 93 not out having picked off runs all round the wicket in another classy innings.

Dumfries started well when Alan Davidson took a good caught and bowled in his first over. Then Stuart Alexander applied more pressure when key batsman McClaren was out to fine catch by keeper Corbett-Byers. Alexander continued with his second wicket and Geary took a reaction catch close in off Patterson.

Mommsen joined former Scotland player More with the expectation that this was the partnership to break. And broken it was due a run-out mix up that had Mommsen stranded mid wicket. Corbett-Byers took no chances and ended up removing a stump, “just in case”.

More followed giving Patterson a caught and bowled and the score of 51 for 6 had Dumfries in sight of victory. Hancock scored 37 but Goodin spun out three more wickets and as the spectators held their breath a leading edge by Fleming sent a catch spinning out to Drew Dawson for skipper Beveridge to claim the last wicket of the league campaign. Corstorphine finished on 104 all out, 88 runs short of the rain revised target of 192 for a memorable Dumfries win.

Dumfries now play Penicuik next Saturday in Stirling to decide who plays Division One cricket next season.

Scoreboard: National League Division 2, match ball sponsored by Thornwood Homes, Ian Gracie Specialist Contractors, Parkgate Ltd.
APD Dumfries beat RH Corstorphine by 88 runs at Nunholm (D/L target 192),
APD Dumfries 190-5 (48 overs, C Bellwood 93*, S Corbett-Byers 37, P Mommsen 2 for 25,
RH Corstorphine 104 all out (33.4 overs, P Hancock 37, J Goodin 3 for 21, S Alexander 2 for 22)
Man of the Match: Chris Bellwood, sponsored by Scott Beveridge Plumbing and Bathrooms.

APD Dumfries at the Scottish 20/20 Finals

Final hurdle the problem for APD Dumfries: APD Dumfries finished season 2008 in a respectable fourth place in National League Division 2. In the process they lost twice to the league winners, Stoneywood-Dyce, once to the side that came second, Dunfermline, once to the side above them in third, Corstophine, and a damaging loss to SMRH who finished eighth. There was the exciting one wicket win over Dunfermline in May but that was the only win over the eventual top three.

So fourth place was the justified place for the Doonhamers and was a good effort for the season with essentially a local side. Each of the top three sides had more resources at their disposal with a professional, player-coach, overseas amateur and the occasional imported player, and the side also had to overcome the “Pro” in their encounters with the other league sides. In the case of the SMRH match this was the reason for the loss with their South African professional batting them to victory.

In the first part of the season Dumfries were up with the leading pack but that loss to SMRH and a subsequent failure to take more points off the leaders meant that they were out of the promotion places. Two wins instead of these losses would have had Dumfries in a promotion spot at the end of season.

Nevertheless Dumfries have been in this league three seasons and have finished second, fourth and fourth again. At the beginning of this season the side’s strength was assessed as the batting. In practice it proved to be the bowling. Admittedly a dreadful summer meant some batsman unfriendly wickets, and other sides scored similarly but the top three sides did score more heavily.

There were just 5 fifties for the season, compared with 14 last season, and each by a different batsman. In an effort to improve the scoring the batting order ended up being adjusted throughout the season. Australian amateur Geary finished as the top run scorer with 227 and his 80 against Weirs was the highest score of the season. Skipper Beveridge finished just behind and had the best batting average of 31, and Stuart Corbett-Byers, Chris Bellwood and Alan Davidson were all past the two hundred mark. Davie Davidson didn’t have his usual impact with the bat but young Tommy McBride looked comfortable at this level and notched up his own century of runs.

The established double-act of opening bowlers Stuart Alexander and Alan Maskrey proved potent once again. Alexander produced several man of the match performances to earn his 21 wickets with one highlight being his four wicket burst to blow away the Dunfermline top order at Nunholm.
He was well backed up with left-arm spinner Beveridge topping the wicket tally with 26 and by Maskrey (17), Patterson (16) and Geary with an unaccustomed 13 wickets. Davie Davidson applied the pressure with his economy rate and his 9 wickets and Richard Rennie got valuable opening overs under his belt. Their impact was seen with the Dumfries bowlers ending high up amongst the league stats at the end of the season.

The side’s fielding performances were also a strength with Chris McCutcheon and Tommy McBride providing the pressure. Keeper Corbett-Byers claimed 15 victims, including 6 stumpings, and Beveridge and Geary clung onto plenty in the outfield.

The side went through the season with a core of just 12 players and a squad of 15. However mention should be made of first caps going to juniors John Dunbar and Michael Temlett who were there in the hour of need!

Next season there will be no Stoneywood-Dyce and Dunfermline who are replaced by Freuchie, (of Lords fame) and West Lothian. It remains to be seen if Kelburne will replace Edinburgh. After missing promotion, despite losing only one game, Corstorphine will be tough opponents. It will be up to the younger brigade of Davidson, Bellwood, Rennie, McCutcheon, Johnston and the McBrides to challenge the established names and their place in the end of season report.

Thanks go to the team’s sponsors APD Ltd of Newbie for their continued support of the team and local cricket.

Stuart Corbett-Byers square cuts in the semi-final run chase

APD Dumfries travelled to Glasgow on Sunday for their third attempt to play the semi-final of the Scottish Murgitroyd 20/20 Cup. However the side fell short in their attempt to get the better of Premier League side Carlton.

Bowling first they encountered a step up in batting nous as Scotland opener Watts and ex-Saltire English showed their experience. They found the singles, turned ones into hard runs twos, and if there was a loose ball they made sure it disappeared to the boundary.

When English was dismissed for 28 the Carlton innings was on track. Watts went on to an excellent 61 which provided scope for the remaining batsmen to force the scoring.

Carlton finished with a challenging 141 for 5. Spinner Scott Beveridge finished with three wickets as Dumfries worked hard to stem the runs.

In reply Beveridge and Corbett-Byers both got into the twenties as drizzle started to fall but a more substantial score was needed for the required run rate.

The drizzle turned to rain and then ultimately a downpour as conditions became farcical for both teams. Wickets fell as Dumfries tried to manufacture a finish in the gloom. However they were 40 runs short with three wickets left when the 20 overs ended. Nevertheless the Dumfries side were able to console themselves with the prize money as winners of the Borders section.

On Saturday JMS Nunholm chased 104 to end their league season with a five wicket win over Anniesland to finish a commendable fifth in Western Union Division 2. Man of the match was youngster Chris Howard who set up the win with four wickets closely followed by Chris McCutcheon who took two and who scored 39 to see his side home.

Also on Saturday a young Garrison Nunholm side travelled to Ferguslie. Geary signed off his season in the northern hemisphere with an undefeated century and Chris Bellwood scored 70 not out as the Dumfries side reached 196 in the forty overs. However an impressive 120 not out from Scotland under 17 player Luthra meant that Ferguslie took the honours by nine wickets.

Renfrew were put in to bat in damp conditions and wickets were shared with Maskrey having an early impact to make it 3 down for 33. Professional Said then rescued his side with a sixty run partnership.

However a stumping off Beveridge caused wickets to fall regularly. Davie Davison got Said just twelve runs later and Jim Paterson claimed two wickets. Renfrew finished on 145 with Said’s 62 the sole score to get past twenty.

Dumfries were coasting when openers Alan Davidson and Jim Patterson had gone past seventy. However both went rapidly for 41 and 30 respectively and a batting slump saw five wickets fall for just 30 runs.

It required Corbett-Byers (20) and Beveridge (34 not out) to see the side home and Beveridge hit a six to end the league season and ensure fourth spot for the second season in a row.

This Sunday APD Dumfries will hopefully play their Scottish 20/20 semi-final at the third attempt. They play Carlton in Glasgow. Carlton finished third in the top league and Scotland players are expected in the opposition so Dumfries are cup underdogs.

On Saturday JMS Nunholm guaranteed themselves Western Union Second Division cricket next season with home victory over Bothwell. Win number five ensured that the season’s goal was achieved with the side currently in sixth place.

Batting first Russell Johnston powered to 122 with good support in establishing the innings and with aggressive batting late on to post a substantial 248 for 5.

With rain looming Nunholm needed 30 overs completed for a result and at that point they were seemingly in charge with Bothwell on 104 for 7. However batsmen five and nine hit out for fifties. It took steady bowling to keep them at bay and ultimately secure a 26 run victory with one ball left.

Annandale Insurance Select and Shipwrecks met in a closely contested Sulwath Cup Final at Nunholm last Sunday. The final of the Midweek 20/20 Cup saw Annandale score 130 and Shipwrecks come up short by 40 runs in their run chase.

However it was a run-out from the boundary by McBride that claimed the initial wicket at 16 and then the floodgates opened. Three wickets fell for three runs to the Dumfries double act of “caught Corbett-Byers bowled Alexander”. Beveridge and Maskrey took over and Alan Maskrey duly swept away the middle order with four wickets. Beveridge took the final wicket at 82 in the 28th over with just 19 as the highest score.

The Dumfries innings was boosted by Edinburgh leaking wides in the initial overs. Extras were to become a theme and Tommy McBride with 19 not out and then especially Chris Bellwood kept the runs flowing to claim the win. Unfortunately Bellwood was out stumped when the scores were level for a second top score of 28, just one short of the extras total.

The seconds, JMS Nunholm, came unstuck on the same sticky wicket on Sunday with a 21 run loss to Victoria in Western Union Division 2. Robert McBride and Richard Rennie bowled well for 5 and 3 wickets respectively but a Victoria fifty with a punishing 26 runs from one over proved key in a total of 147 all out.

The Nunholm top order could not respond to the circumstances and only an excellent 7th wicket partnership between McCutcheon, 31, and Rennie, 28, had the side on course for a fighting win. However crucially Rennie was bowled and a painful last wicket run-out left the Dumfries side 21 runs adrift of a valuable win.

West Academy prospect Tommy McBride takes charge

APD Dumfries lost their National league encounter with leaders Stoneywood-Dyce at Nunholm on Saturday. They lost by four wickets but the result remained in doubt until a decisive 7th wicket partnership eased the Aberdonians home.

Dumfries lost the toss and totalled 192 for 7. A bigger total had looked possible after the openers survived some testing initial overs for a fifty partnership.

Matters changed when Dyce debutant Gelderblom, a South African indoor cricket cap, took three wickets. Alan Davidson went for an imposing 48 and Dumfries were in a tricky position at 89 for 4.

The run rate slowed as Beveridge and Byers retrieved matters. After a fifty partnership the pair looked set for a final push but Beveridge went lbw.

West Academy player, sixteen year old Tommy McBride was then good enough to push the ball around for one and twos but firepower was lost when Byers was bowled for 43. When McBride was sacrificially run out for 27 his efforts had boosted the score by fifty in the closing ten overs.

In reply there was one early wicket but overseas amateur Van Vuuren and opener Ninan progressed steadily. Beveridge got the breakthrough and three wickets fell for just 10 runs and Stoneywood stood at the identical score to Dumfries of 94/4 off 26 overs.

Stander and former Saltire Stuart Coetzer batted well to restore Dyce hopes. However Stander sent a top edge into the stratosphere and was well caught by McBride. Another wicket went immediately and 156 for 6 looked hopeful but Coetzer and Gelderblom were able to make light work of the remaining runs and the win was reached with ten balls left.

Meanwhile the seconds game at Greenock against bottom side Glenpark was cancelled due to rain. This means that this Saturday’s match against second bottom Shawholm takes on even more significance as the Nunholm side have four games to make sure they are not near the relegation spots at the end of the season.

More torrential downpours meant that the Scottish 20/20 Cup semi-final, APD Dumfries versus Carlton, was washed out as well. The 20/20 finals day is rescheduled for Sunday 17th August again at Shawholm.

This week an excellent turnout of thirty youngsters from around the region attended the 3-day Cricket Scotland camp at Nunholm which was led by first class player, New Zealander, Grant Robinson.

This coming Saturday the firsts, APD Dumfries, play away at Preswick and the seconds, JMS Nunholm, start their Western Union league campaign away at Ayr 2nds. The Sunday side, Garrison Nunholm, play in the Western Union Sunday league for the first time at home against Queens Park.

The SNCL match might have been off but the barbeque and band were on with a healthy turn-out and a busy night for the bar and some doubtful preparation for the friendly the next day on the part of some.

Langholm were unable to get a full quota of players to play the seconds on Sunday so an intra-Dumfries match took place on a pitch which was distinctly damp in patches, thanks to water draining onto the wicket under the covers, but which actually played alright. Team 1 beat Team 2 in a ‘dramatic’ finish after they were apparently cruising to victory. The match scorecard can be seen on cricinfo (perhaps!).

The National league fixtures start, at home, on Saturday with a 1pm start against RH Corstorphine followed by a BBQ and Band. The Sunday XI also play at home with a friendly against Langholm, 1:30 start.

Ferguslie batted first and yet it was still Dumfries that hit the first boundary of the season since Thomas McBride had a match transfer to Ferguslie. He went on to score a sound 22 and in combination with ex-DCC player David Sturgeon took the score to 48 for 1. Then came the first of the run-outs with Sturgeon run-out from the boundary by Alan Davidson. Stuart Murray, who scored a century in last year’s fixture, rapidly went LBW to Davie Davidson and then some excellent fielding from Alan Davidson, Chris McCutcheon and Stuart Alexander with three direct hits meant three more run-outs and Ferguslie were languishing at 88 for 7. Harper was removed by Jim Patterson for 26 (97 for 8 ) and then the tail wagged. Cameron hit four boundaries to boost the total and finished 39 not out when the overs ran out to leave the score at 139 for 8.

In reply, in his first ‘dig’, Geary hit a four and survived an edge in his first over in Scotland and took the opening partnership to 36, and his score to 21, when he mistimed a leg side shot and scooped up a leading edge catch. The score progressed to 86 for 3 off 20 overs when the fireworks started. Stuart Corbett-Byers defied any early season rustiness by hurtling to 50 in just 23 balls. Included in this were 7 fours and 3 sixes one of which nearly cleared the clubhouse roof. One over which he hit for 23 meant it was all over as a contest. After reaching his 50 via a 4 followed by a 6 he decided to ‘retire’ and tried to hit one into the River Nith. He didn’t. However he is awaiting a lucrative call from the new Indian 20/20 league. It was left to Beveridge and Paterson to ease to a 6 wicket win with over 13 overs left.

Ferguslie 139 for 8 (40 overs)
T McBride 22, D Harper 26, G Cameron 39 not out
S Alexander 5 overs 1 for 10, D Davidson 4 overs 1 for 14,
J Geary 7 overs 1 for 32, Patterson 5 overs 1 for 9. 4 run outs (3 direct hits)

APD Dumfries 140 for 4 in 26.4 overs
J Geary 21, D Davidson 19, S Corbett-Byers 50 in 23 balls

Dumfries Player of the Match: Stuart Corbett-Byers

Ferguslie narrowly missed out on winning the Scottish Premier League last season and finished as runners-up. The corresponding fixture last year produced some big hitting from two of their Scotland players, World Cup all-rounder Majid Haq and middle-order batsman Omer Hussain and runs from their South African professional Con De Lange.

Haq and Hussain are due to play at Nunholm again this year and Haq may be looking to add some illustrious Dumfries names to his list of victims which includes Australia’s Matthew Hayden and South African captain Graeme Smith. Scotland A opening bat, Stuart Murray, takes on the Ferguslie captaincy for the first time. The match starts at 1pm.

APD Dumfries have a near full-strength team available including their young Australian amateur player this season, Geary. He is a nineteen year old left-hand opening batsman from New South Wales. He was introduced to the club through his team-mate, former Dumfries pro, Brad Bannister. He arrived jet-lagged the day before the Queens’ semi-final, braved the cold and rain at Hampden, experienced the post-match celebrations and has even sampled some haggis. Despite all this he has not taken the first flight home which bodes well for his season in Dumfries. He received his club cap at Sunday training from Skipper Scott Beveridge on behalf of his player sponsor JP’s Hair and Beauty Salon.

On Sunday the 1st XI play at home against Division One Western Union side Hillhead. They are due to bring down a Tasmanian duo, their professional Nick Guinane, an all-rounder, and Under-19 State off-spinner Tom Bevan. The match starts at 1:30pm.

Meanwhile the 2nd XI, JMS Nunholm, also start their season this weekend with two local derbies, away against Langholm on Saturday and at St Michaels on Sunday.

Anyone wanting to play or watch some cricket is welcome at the ground. Further details are available from Trefor Williams on 01387 256455 and at www.dumfriescricketclub.co.uk.