Photo: Patrick top scored with 78 opening in the 2s win at Mearns

Both Dumfries 1st and 2nd teams jostled over league positions with their respective opponents on Saturday.

In Western Premiership 2, the Dumfries 1st team, Vigilant Dumfries, were beaten by Kilmarnock to remain in third place and for their visitors to move up to top spot.

Dumfries were put in to bat and opener Bellwood led the way with a classy innings of 30. Then Lachlan Friend and Chris Brockwell shared a partnership to take the score past a hundred for the loss of two wickets. However, the loss of Hole in the Wa’ Player of the Match Brockwell, for 36, and Friend, for 20, in quick succession to returning opening bowler McFadzean, set Dumfries back. The spin of Chaudhary made further inroads as he took four wickets to reduce Dumfries to 170 all out.

The high point of the Dumfries response was to have Kilmarnock at 80 for 3 with a wicket for Munro Cubbon and two to Pat Druce. However, Kilmarnock professional, Chaudhary, continued his contribution in hitting 50 not out, and with Singh 41 not out, took his side through to a comfortable seven wicket win.

In Western Championship 2, Dumfries 2nd XI, Nunholm, won by 13 runs playing away to move past opponents Mearns 2nds into second place. Also being asked to bat first, Nunholm were indebted to the top score of the day of 78 by opener Patrick Obank and the Beveridge Plumbing Player of the Match. On a day when fours were hard to come by his nine boundaries helped take Nunholm to 121 for 5. Then a crucial wag from the tail meant Nunholm reached a necessary total of 178 all out with Mark Abnett contributing 39 until last out.

Nunholm got off to a good start with James Cox removing two wickets early. Thereafter, the young set of Dumfries bowlers worked hard to take further wickets and when Cox returned to dismiss Gupta for 46, Mearns had reached 150 for 8. The score crept closer but Cory Dawson and Oliver Barnard managed to remove the last two wickets for a good win with Mearns 165 all out. Opening bowler Finley Trigg also finished with two wickets and Lachlan Osmond one.

In the Cumbria Sunday League the Sunday Development XI beat Penrith by 16 runs at Nunholm. Lachlan Friend and Oliver Barnard each hit retiral fifties, and runs by Finley (33) and Dashiel Trigg (22 not out) helped reach a total of 200 for 5. Penrith were 184 for 5 in reply.

Meanwhile, in the Scotland Regional Pathway Series, Munro Cubbon top scored hitting 72 for the Western Warriors U17s in a 2-run defeat by the Caledonian Highlanders U17s,

On Saturday, in Western Premiership Two, the Dumfries first team, third placed Vigilant Dumfries, play at Hillhead who are in ninth spot. And in Western Championship Two, Dumfries 2nd XI, Nunholm, who are in second place, play eighth placed Hillhead 2nds. Those interested in being involved in some cricket over the summer are encouraged to contact the club via www.dumfriescricketclub.com.