Dumfries Sports Club

APD Dumfries were unable to add a third trophy to this season’s collection in their last match at the Scottish Murgitroyd Twenty20 finals day last Sunday at Poloc. They lost their semi-final match against Premiership winners Carlton after losing their way batting second.

Dumfries bowled first and as the opposition skipper Gilmour said “Carlton struggled with the bat at the start”. The bowlers put the Edinburgh side under pressure by getting their top batsmen early when Chad Breetzke had both Mommsen and English, current and past Scotland players, caught in his first over to put Dumfries on the front foot at six for two wickets.

Carlton had to consolidate in the middle overs with Drummond and Gilmour working the singles. Scott Beveridge claimed Gilmour with a caught and bowled and then went on to have Scotland skipper Drummond well stumped by stand-in keeper Davie Davidson for 27 to make it 64 for 4. Then over the final overs Burns was able to dispatch a couple of sixes for the top score of 30 and for Carlton to reach a total of 113 for 9 with the wickets shared around the bowlers. Chris McCutcheon took two in the last four overs and was backed up with two run outs.

It was a good effort in the field by Dumfries but on a slow wicket, with a change of personnel in the batting line-up, and Saltires’ bowlers Drummond and Mommsen to overcome it was still a difficult target. So it proved as the innings never really gained the necessary momentum against some good bowling and fielding with the top three out for 21 and in the seventh over. Alan Davidson was the top scorer but the required substantial innings never appeared as wickets fell regularly. Mommsen took 2 for 6 in his four overs and as in the first innings there were two run outs.

Dumfries finished on just 65 at the close for the loss of seven wickets for what was a comfortable win by the Edinburgh side. Carlton then went on to triumph in the final restricting Clydesdale to a similar low score of 67 which they chased easily.

Dumfries Captain Beveridge said afterwards “we bowled and fielded really well but lacked depth in the batting on the day” and, for leading from the front, he earned the Dumfries Annandale Insurance Man of the Match award.

Murgitroyd Scottish Twenty20 Semi-final
APD Dumfries lost to Carlton by 48 runs at Shawholm
Carlton 113-9 (20 overs) R Burns 30, G Drummond 27,
C McCutcheon 2 overs 2 for 5, C Breetzke 2 for 14, S Beveridge 2 for 30
APD Dumfries 65-7 (20 overs) P Mommsen 2 for 6

APD Dumfries took the Scottish Championship title away from leaders West Lothian on Sunday in a top of the table decider at Benfield Park Nunholm with a convincing seven wicket win. That earned the side promotion, for the first time, to the Premiership and the top league in Scotland.

Dumfries put West Lothian in to bat and Allan Maskrey produced the desired start with an lbw decision second ball. Five overs later he added another wicket, bowled.

Smith and overseas player Cookson set about consolidation. However the match swung when Beveridge had Cookson caught by keeper Corbett-Byers for the top score of 39. Next over Jim Patterson got Smith caught, and Black bowled, leaving his first ball. Then Dixon debated a second, was run out and West Lothian were in strife at 71 for 6.

That Dumfries momentum continued when McCutcheon followed up with two more wickets.

However West Lothian were resisting well. Thomson (23) and Raven (20no) pushed the score towards a competitive total but the former was superbly bowled by McCutcheon. However a couple of sixes landed on the pavilion before Beveridge trapped Bennie lbw in the last over for a final total of 148.

Dumfries looked to have negotiated the opening overs until Dawson was given lbw to Thomson and then Tom McBride was caught behind to make it 28 for 2. It required a crucial partnership between Benfield Man of the Match Scott Beveridge and Chad Breetzke to ease concerns. They played steadily until a loose over from Smith was smashed for eighteen by Beveridge and 81 for 2 was immediately healthier.

Although Beveridge survived a couple of chances he went on to an excellent fifty only to be bowled behind his legs after a ninety run partnership. Skipper Corbett-Byers contributed boundaries and then Breetzke hit straight for the winning four to successfully finish the innings for Dumfries with a 38no punctuated with punishing attacking shots.

That sparked Dumfries celebrations and more after the Championship trophy was presented to Stuart Corbett-Byers for the biggest achievement in the club’s hundred and fifty years. It also marked two league trophies in two years for the side and a 2011 league and cup double with the SCU Trophy win the previous weekend.

One more competition remains to be decided but Dumfries have an uphill task when they play Premiership winners Carlton in the Murgitroyd Scottish Twenty20 semi-final this Sunday at Shawholm.

Scottish Championship, match sponsored by Benfield Ltd
APD Dumfries beat West Lothian by 7 wickets at Nunholm
West Lothian 148 all out (49.3 overs) J Cookson 39,
C McCutcheon 3 for 29, J Patterson 2 for 20,
S Beveridge 2 for 26, A Maskrey 2 for 28
APD Dumfries 150-3 (29 overs) S Beveridge 53, C Breetzke 38no
Benfield Man of the Match: S Beveridge

[Scorecard] [Photos] [Scotsman report]

Dumfries firsts play their final league game in the Scottish Championship on Sunday at Benfield Park Nunholm starting at noon. With Dumfries presently in second place and involved in two matches this weekend the match against current leaders West Lothian on Sunday may well decide the title winners and promotion to the Scottish Premiership.

Supporters and sports club members are invited to drop in on the final league game and back your club’s cricket side.