Dumfries Sports Club

On Saturday, at Nunholm, APD Dumfries defeated Stirling County in the CSL Western Premier League by four wickets. Stirling were 153 all out in the first innings with wickets falling at intervals throughout the innings thanks to two early wickets from Stuart Alexander and three late ones from Todd Griffiths.

The Dumfries openers then produced a century opening partnership with Pat Druce first out for 56 and then Griffiths for 47 to set up the win. However Scotland U19s’ Nick Farrar managed to made life awkward for the Nunholm side by taking five wickets in his spell of swing bowling.

Nevertheless Dumfries reached the win with fifteen overs still left and six wickets down. The Good Man Home Improvements Man of the Match went to Todd Griffiths for his all-round contribution including a memorable horizontal diving catch in the covers. APD Dumfries play Renfrew, away, in the league on Saturday.

At Stirling, Eco-Genics Nunholm reached 106 all out in the Western Premier Reserve league. Williamfield made their winning target with the loss of just three wickets. Mark Irwin was Dumfries Tool Room Man of the Match for the top score and a good opening spell. On Saturday the side play Renfrew 2nds at home.

Dumfries’s Niall Alexander was part of a 78-run Scotland U17s win over Ireland last week and this Friday is with Scotland u19s in Holland as they play their first qualification match for the U19 World Cup.

Rachel Howard played for Scotland Women’s U17s against County opposition in the ECB T20 tournament last week and the Scotland Women’s Development XI play Lancashire U19s at Nunholm next Thu/Fri, 8/9th August. The Dumfries Women’s league game at Stirling on Sunday was rained off.

The Club’s women’s coaching is on Fridays, 5-7, and junior coaching sessions continue at Dumfries Sports Club, Nunholm, each Monday through the holidays from 6:15-8. Contact the Club about senior, junior and womens’ cricket on 07799 856094, dumfriescricketclub@gmail.com , or see www.dumfriescricketclub.co.uk, @dumfriescricket.

APD Dumfries had a convincing win in the Murgitroyd Borders Twenty20 Final at Gala on Friday evening to qualify for the Scottish Finals day. APD Dumfries hit 143 for 5 in the 20 overs and restricted Gala to 62 for 8.

Chris Bellwood was the Byers Engineering Man of the Match with 67 not out and opening bowler Peter Lojszczyk blunted the reply with 3 wickets for just four runs.

However on Saturday APD Dumfries lost their away Scottish Cup group game as Ferguslie successfully chased a Dumfries total of 132. Top scorer, and again Dumfries Stafforce Man of the Match, was Chris Bellwood with 40 with Scott Beveridge adding 37.

However English with 67 not out eased the Paisley side through to an eight wicket win. On Saturday the team are away at Falkland for another Scottish Cup group game.

Ego-Genics Nunholm won Saturday’s Western Cup group game match against Ferguslie 2nds by ten runs. Youngster Chris McBride was the top run scorer with 39 not out, and the Phil Shortt Electrical Man of the Match, in the Nunholm score of 154 for 6.

Jim Patterson, Stuart Alexander and Davie Davidson each took two wickets as the Meikleriggs side reached 144 for 9. Nunholm play Galloway at home in the Western Cup on Saturday.

On Sunday, Dumfries Women beat Ayr at Nunholm for their second National League win. Margaret Miller hit 45 and Parkdale Garage Player of the Match, Sue Strachan, scored her first fifty in a total of 117 for 3. Kirsty Strachan took four for twelve in bowling Ayr out for 46.

Summer Junior Cricket: A Club 2-day summer camp is taking place at Dumfries Sports Club, Nunholm, on Thursday and Friday, 18/19 July (10-3), for boys and girls (Age 7-16, £25 for 2-day camp).

Suitable for beginners, to book a place, or for details, contact the Club on dumfriescricketclub@gmail.com or 07799 856094, www dumfriescricketclub.co.uk, @DumfriesCricket. Club junior coaching sessions also continue at Nunholm each Monday for the summer from 6:15-8pm.

APD Dumfries produced a below par performance in their loss at Nunholm to league leaders Uddingston in the Western Premier League on Saturday.

Dumfries were put in to bat and, with runs proving difficult to get, had reached 58 for 1 in the 22nd over when opener, and Glasgow University Crichton Man of the Match, Alan Davidson was caught for the top score of 31. Three more wickets fell for just five runs and the innings was struggling. Scott Beveridge resisted with 27 but the Uddingston bowlers nagged away with Reddy taking 3 for 12 as Dumfries were all out for 135.

The necessary early wickets didn’t materialise as Dumfries pressed too hard for the wicket taking delivery and Uddingston profited. Opener Rai was first out with the score on 58 and fellow opener Gul was caught off McCutcheon for 35 at the hundred mark. The winning total was reached for the loss of three wickets with pro Priyadashrana not out on 44 for a comfortable win for the visitors.

On Saturday, the Scottish Cup resumes with APD Dumfries away at Ferguslie.

During the week Niall Alexander opened the bowling for the Scotland Development XI against the MCC, taking two wickets, and was also selected for the upcoming games for Scotland U17s, and along with Peter Lojszczyk named for the Western Warriors 20/20 Pro Series match at Titwood in Glasgow on Thursday.

On Sunday, Dumfries Women won at home against Galloway in the National League. Dumfries set an imposing target reaching 144 for 1 in their twenty overs. Opener Kirsty Strachan claimed the Parkdale Garage Dumfries Player of the Match hitting 70 not out and was well supported by Rachel Howard with 33 not out. Strachan and Rosy Ryan bowled well to take two wickets each as Galloway reached forty nine in reply. The Club’s Women’s coaching sessions take place on Friday evenings.

Summer Junior Cricket: A Club summer camp is taking place at Dumfries Sports Club, Nunholm, on Thu/Fri 18/19 July (10-3) for boys and girls (£25, Age 8-16). Suitable for beginners, to book a place, or for details, contact the Club on dumfriescricketclub@gmail.com or 07799 856094, www dumfriescricketclub.co.uk. Club junior coaching sessions also continue at Nunholm each Monday for the summer from 6:15-8pm.

APD Dumfries won their Western Premier League match on Saturday with an assured 42 run victory over Renfrew at Nunholm.

That was largely due to a terrific century from Vice-Captain Chris Bellwood who amassed a score of 141, including 24 hit off one over, and who only perished, stumped, in the last over.

Aided by 68 from opener Drew Dawson, and their 169 run third wicket partnership, that led to a Dumfries total of 271 for 4.

In reply Renfrew were always under the pressure of runs. Niall Alexander took two important top order wickets, including that of professional Said for 24, the second wicket to fall.

Alan Davidson was the leading top wicket taker with three as Renfrew reached 229 for 8 and Bellwood contributed a further four catches behind the stumps to seal the Building Tec Man of the Match award.

APD Dumfries’s next league game is against Drumpellier at home on Saturday.

Dumfries 2nds, Eco-Genics Nunholm, lost out by three wickets in a low scoring encounter at Renfrew against Dean Park in the Western Premier Reserve League. Mark Irwin was the Andersons Kilts Nunholm Man of the Match with an aggressive 44 in a total of 127. The Nunholm bowlers made it a struggle with firstly, Jim Patterson taking two wickets, and conceding a mere eight runs, and then Jerry Goodin three before the opposition reached their target with seven wickets down.

On Sunday Dumfries won through to the final of the Murgitroyd Borders 20/20 with wins over Kelso and then St Boswells in the semi-final. At Kelso, Tom McBride and Chris Brockwell put on a century stand in an imposing total of 166. Kelso scored 130 in reply. It was a 63 run win at St Boswells as Dumfries totalled 145 with Campbell Potts the top scorer with 49. Scott Beveridge took nine wickets over the two games for the Dickies Bar Player of the Day.

Also on Sunday Dumfries Women lost their debut Women’s National League match at George Watsons. The Edinburgh side’s total of 181 for 3 proved too much to chase with Dumfries scoring a creditable 133 for 7 in their 30 overs.

Margaret Miller was the Parkdale Garage Player of the Match for her first fifty and Captain Sue Strachan added a valuable twenty one.

The Club can be contacted for information about Senior, Womens’ and Junior Cricket at Nunholm this summer on 07799 856094 or dumfriescricketclub@gmail.com.

Taking cricket around the schools

Dumfries Cricket Club is in the middle of a programme of coaching in local schools.

And, this week, pupils at Aimsfield Primary were again under the watchful instruction of ECB Coach Jonathan Osborne.

The programme is aided by grant funding from Cricket Scotland and the D&G Junior Cricket Development Group.

As a result, a number of local primary schools have, and will, over the rest of the summer term, receive free cricket sessions delivered through the Club.

APD Dumfries out to start the League with a win

This coming Saturday is the second round of league games.

APD Dumfries travelling to Stirling in the Western Premier and Eco-Genics Nunholm hosting their Stirling counterparts, Williamfield, at home in the Reserve League.

After last weekend’s rain affected cancellations Dumfries will be aiming to start off with a win in their defence of their Western Premier title. APD Dumfries also play their first group game in the new CSL40 Cup competition against Stenhousemuir at Nunholm on Sunday.

Border Reiver

On Wednesday Peter Lojszczyk was selected for the Border Reivers in the new LiveSport.co.uk Scottish Pro Series in another, unfortunately, rain curtailed match against the other team, the Highlanders, at Titwood on Wednesday. The Pro series aims to provide the platform for the introduction of professional cricket at domestic level in Scotland and the establishment of a first class structure in future years.

First Scotland Cap

The player with the most games played this year at the Club is Kirsty Strachan.

She was formally awarded her Scotland Cap last week when she made her full debut for Scotland Women in their game against Leicestershire and a win over Derbyshire. She becomes the first Nunholm player to achieve a full Scotland Cap.

The Dumfries Women’s side make their debut in the National league on Sunday with a fixture in Edinburgh against George Watsons.

Those interested in trying out a new sport are encouraged to contact the club about Women’s and Girls cricket at Nunholm.

Coaching: Monday night junior sessions for boys and girls take place at Dumfries Sports Club, Nunholm, from 6:15-8. The Club’s Womens’ and Girls training takes place on Fridays from 5 to 7. For more details contact Trefor Williams on 01387 256455, or contact the Club on 07799 856094, dumfriescricketclub@gmail.com , or see www.dumfriescricketclub.co.uk, www.twitter.com/dumfriescricket .