Dumfries Sports Club

Josh Geary top scored with 81 for APD Dumfries © Cricket Scotland

Dumfries chose to bat and when Aussies Parkinson and Geary came together at 47 for 2 they proceeded to put together a match winning partnership. They had almost taken the total past two hundred when Parkinson was bowled for 69. However with eighteen balls left a century was just beyond Josh’s reach when McKenna took an unbelievable caught and bowled off a rising drive destined for the boundary. He departed for the day’s top score of 81.

Dumfries finished on a competitive 242 for 7 but they had the significant problem of the league’s top run scorer, professional Van Wyk, plus the fourth top run scorer, overseas amateur Cookson, to overcome.

Again Alan Maskrey set the tone for Dumfries by bowling both openers. With the score at 70, left arm spinner Scott Beveridge took a crucial caught and bowled to dismiss Cookson.

Leg spinner Jerry Goodin struck an equally important blow when he had Van Wyk caught for just 17. The two spinners then reduced the opposition to 120 for 9. However Raven and Heath delivered a tenth wicket unbeaten stand of seventy to take the game right to the end but nevertheless a defeat and Dumfries’s 14th win of the season.

In Western Union Division 2, JMS Nunholm finished their league season with a disappointing seven wicket defeat to Langloan. Langloan successfully chased the home side’s total of 183 in which Andy Reed was the top scorer for the Dumfries side with 59.

The APD Dumfries side celebrate by uncorking the champagne after winning the National League 2 title at Weirs

Dumfries Cricket Club secured the biggest league title in the club’s 157 year history at the weekend when they became champions of Scottish National League Division 2.

A win by ten wickets in Saturday’s away fixture saw them deserved champions with two games still to play after having led the league from day one and with a record of won thirteen, lost one.

The emphatic win over opponents Weirs saw the Dumfries attack firing on all cylinders as they bowled out their opponents for just 61 with Alan Maskrey, Chris McCutcheon and Jim Patterson each taking two wickets and Scott Beveridge three. Tom McBride and Andy Parkinson then knocked off the runs without losing a wicket to start the champagne celebrations for the finest achievement in the club’s history.

Now in their fifth season in the National Leagues, after promotion from the Western Union in 2005, the title is a reward for APD Dumfries’s consistent challenge at the top of the table with the side having finished second twice and fourth twice. Read the rest of this entry »

On Tuesday, Dumfries Cricket Club hosted a team from the Refugee Cricket Project (RCP) in London. The team, aged from 15 to 18, was composed predominantly of Afghan refugees and is supported by the cricket charity, Cricket for Change (www.cricketforchange.org.uk).

Tom McBride missed out on a century scoring 97 not out

Since the team expressly wanted to spend the rest of their time playing cricket they played a young Dumfries Select on Tuesday followed by two matches (of Twenty20) the following day at Ayr and Prestwick before making their way back to London.

The RCP side fielded first and after being welcomed to Scottish cricket by two heavy downpours that reluctantly forced them from the field the weather fortunately cleared to give them a perfect day for cricket. Read the rest of this entry »

Chris McCutcheon was Dumfries Man of the Match against Corstorphine

In National League Division 2 APD Dumfries are one win away from the league title with three games left after a close two wicket win over RH Corstorphine at Nunholm. The story of the match was an unbeaten 44 run partnership between Josh Geary and Chris McCutcheon that rescued Dumfries from 116 for 8 to pass Corstorphine’s total of 159 all out with just five balls remaining. Geary finished not out on 46, and McCutcheon on 30.

Bowling well Dumfries restricted their opponents to 159 all out. Maskrey bowled a tight opening spell for one wicket, Davidson took two and McCutcheon claimed three wickets at the end.

However Corstorphine also bowled well and Dumfries struggled, moving from 2 for 2, to 5 for 69, and then 8 for 116. That was when McCutcheon came out to join Geary and in a tense finish dominate the scoring to get a vital win for Dumfries.

Robert McBride scored his first century for Dumfries with 100no against Kelburne

In another dramatic encounter JMS Nunholm travelled to play GHK in Western Union Division 2. Exploiting the conditions GHK bowled Nunholm out for only 75. Nunholm managed to respond by having GHK five down for 16 and 36 for 8. However the final wicket eluded the side and they lost by just one wicket. Youngsters Temlett and Telfer caused the drama with four and three wickets respectively.

Site Electrical Dumfries lost a well contested match to Kelburne in the Strathclyde Sunday League by 4 wickets. Despite a maiden unbeaten century by Robert McBride and fifty one by Douglas Brotherston, Kelburne chased down the home side’s total of 218 for 4.

On Saturday in National League Division 2 APD Dumfries travel to play Weirs looking for one more win to claim the league title. JMS Nunholm are at Kingholm to play DMPS St Michaels in Western Union Division 2. On Sunday, Site Electrical Dumfries play at Ferguslie in Strathclyde Division 2.

On Friday Nunholm is the home ground for the club’s sponsors, Newbie company APD Ltd, in what promised to be a ‘keenly contested’ social match against Chapelcross.

Next week, on Tuesday, a Dumfries XI play the RCP, the Refugee Cricket Project, a team based in London and composed predominantly of young Afghan refugees and supported by the cricket charity, Cricket for Change (www.cricketforchange.org.uk). They are on a tour of Scotland which includes watching Afghanistan play Scotland at Ayr where the two sides compete in a four day match and two one day internationals. Dumfries have been added to their first year of fixtures which have included games against the MCC, Surrey club sides and Eton.

And good luck to Niall Alexander and Chris McBride who are in Edinburgh this week playing for the Western Junior Academy in the U14 festival of matches against the other regional Academy sides.

The current National League table for Division 2 is shown below. Read the rest of this entry »

Vice Captain Jim Patterson scored crucial runs for Dumfries

In National League Division 2 leaders APD Dumfries maintained their winning ways successfully chasing a Kelburne total of 154 all out at Whitehaugh. Professional Harper was the mainstay of the Kelburne innings and was only dismissed in the last over for 60. Wickets were shared with McCutcheon, McBride, Davidson each taking two and Geary three.

With Dumfries at 77 for 5 the team had to look to their depth of batting resources. It required the experience of Davie Davidson and Jim Patterson, in a rare batting opportunity this season, to steady the ship. Patterson was stumped for the top score of 36 with just eleven runs needed. Davidson (29 no) completed the Dumfries win by four wickets and earn the Galloway Industrial Man of the Match award.

In Western Union Division 2 the match between JMS Nunholm and Kilmarnock at Dumfries on Saturday was abandoned in the second innings due to rain. In the Strathclyde League Site Electrical Dumfries beat Hillhead on Sunday. The side, with its emphasis on giving opportunities to the club’s younger players, held Hillhead to a total of 150 all out. Michael Temlett took three wickets and Stephen Temlett two. The youthful top order had less success and it required Parkinson and Geary to usher their side to a six wicket win. For details on Dumfries CC including the club’s Monday evening junior sessions (6:15-8pm) see www.dumfriescricketclub.co.uk.

Tom McBride batting for European U19 Champions Scotland © ICC/CricketEurope

This Saturday league leaders APD Dumfries are at home to RH Corstorphine in National League Division 2. Tom McBride is available again after being part of the Scotland U19 team who won the European Championships last week. In Western Union Division 2 JMS Nunholm are away to GHK and on Sunday Site Electrical Dumfries play Kelburne at home in Strathclyde Division 2.

League and 20/20 Cup runs for Dumfries's Andrew Batty © Cricket Scotland

Forfarshire proved too strong for Dumfries in the Murgitroyd Scottish Twenty20 semi-final played at Poloc on Sunday. The Dundee side demonstrated Premier League quality as they racked up 160 for 6 wickets. Chris McCutcheon claimed a run-out and two wickets, including Scotland opener Watson. The required good start for Dumfries didn’t happen with the top four batsmen departing for single figures as Scotland all-rounder Parker, took two early wickets. Only Andrew Batty with 27 was in the runs as Dumfries yielded to the run pressure and subsided to 55 all out.

In Western Union Division 2 JMS Nunholm lost away when Cambusdoon passed the Nunholm total of 178 for the loss of seven wickets with two overs left. The Nunholm top five each scored runs in a good team batting performance with Williams top scoring with 39. With Cambusdoon at 64 for 4 after 26 overs rain made bowling difficult and a fine 59 by Ayr youngster Elliott Spiers made the difference. Peter Johnstone took three wickets in a fifteen over spell and young Chris McBride took two.

On Saturday leaders APD Dumfries resume their league campaign away at Kelburne in National League Division 2. In Western Union Division 2 JMS Nunholm are at home against Kilmarnock. On Sunday Site Electrical Dumfries are at home against Hillhead in the Strathclyde Sunday League.

Dumfries's Tom McBride on his way to another century. © Cricket Scotland

Dumfries set an imposing target of 301 for 4 with eighteen year old Tom McBride top scoring with 111, his second century against Freuchie this season.

Scott Beveridge also powered to 81 in a match winning 176 run partnership.

Dumfries then dismissed Freuchie for just 122 to win comfortably with Chris McCutcheon taking three wickets. Read the rest of this entry »

Skipper Stuart Corbett-Byers had a successful day with the bat and behind the stumps.

With both Dumfries league fixtures cancelled on Saturday the focus was on the double header of 20/20 matches at Selkirk on Sunday.

First was the Murgitroyd Borders 20/20 semi-final against Gala. Dumfries put Gala in to bat and Davie Davidson, Robert McBride and Josh Geary took early wickets to put Gala on the back foot at 22 for 3.

Then four wickets fell in the thirties with Jerry Goodin taking two wickets in his first over. The Gala innings was finally closed out for 62 with Davidson taking three wickets.

Dumfries lost two early wickets but Drew Dawson (33no) and Stuart Corbett-Byers (25no) produced a match-winning partnership and hit the winning runs in the fifteenth over.

Dumfries then took on Selkirk in the Borders final.

Campbell Potts hit 31 for Dumfries in the final.

Davidson with 33 provided the backbone of the Dumfries innings. From 73 for 4, Campbell Potts and Josh Geary took the score to 118 and Potts was finally bowled for 31 in the last over for Dumfries to reach 130 for 6.

Selkirk had reached 27 after just four overs when McBride dismissed Fenton thanks to an in-form Corbett-Byers behind the stumps. That put Selkirk on the slide as Chris McCutcheon took more two wickets.

Dumfries applied the pressure taking still more wickets and spinners Goodin and Brotherston took the last two to end the final with Selkirk on 56 all out.

As Borders winners Dumfries go through to the Scottish Twenty20 semi-final in Glasgow on the 25th.

On Saturday, APD Dumfries travel to Freuchie in National League Division 2. JMS Nunholm are at home against GU Staff in Western Union Division 2.

On Sunday Site Electrical Dumfries play Kelburne away in the Strathclyde League.

Also on Sunday Nunholm hosts the Scotland U17s in their match against Cumbria.

Stuart Corbett-Byers takes a stumping off Jim Patterson (c) Cameron Munro

They went down to Ferguslie by forty three runs when they lost their way chasing a total of 250 bolstered by one hundred and twenty four from Ferguslie professional Mullick.

Andy Parkinson scored 65, and Tom McBride 37, but the pressure of run rate became too much and they subsided to 207 all out with two overs remaining.

It started well enough with Ferguslie choosing to bat but losing Stafford caught by Johnston off Josh Geary. That made it 12 for one and with Alan Maskrey reeling off three opening maidens the omens were promising. Read the rest of this entry »

Scott Beveridge took 3 wickets in the Scottish Cup match

Having playing at home on the Saturday it was a bleary eyed APD Dumfries that set off in the minibus at six in the morning for the marathon trip to play beside Aberdeen Airport. Then on arrival Stoneywood-Dyce put the Dumfries side in to bat.

Against a tight opening attack openers Tom McBride and Russell Johnston had reached 22 when Johnston was bowled by Scotland all-rounder Stander. Andy Parkinson came in to join McBride as the pair were made to work hard for their runs. After 25 overs the total was 68 for 1. Read the rest of this entry »

Captain Stuart Corbett-Byers top scored with 51

Dumfries decided to let West Lothian bat first and avoid a run chase involving their in-form professional Van Wyk. The decision bore fruit when Josh Geary took a wicket, caught McCutcheon, second ball. Maskrey had the opposition skipper Raven caught by the keeper and with no addition Geary also had the other opener lbw, twenty seven for three in the 10th over.

However that was perhaps where the match started for Dumfries with pro Kruger Van Wyk coming out to join Cookson at the wicket. As the division’s top run scorer and with an average of over one hundred sending him back to the Nunholm pavilion was key to the course of the match. Read the rest of this entry »