Report: Dumfries win the League

Croma Vigilant Dumfries win to take League Title

Croma Vigilant Dumfries 98 all out, Kelburne 87 all out.

Dumfries 1st XI, Croma Vigilant Dumfries, were awarded the West First Division Trophy on Saturday after their win at Kelburne in a match sponsored by John Henderson Solicitors. Dumfries in first spot wanted a win to become Champions with a game remaining. Kelburne needed a win for a promotion place.

Despite a hot weekend the weather still had an impact with the previous period of rain resulting in a wicket awkward to bat on and when Kelburne won the toss they took advantage and asked Dumfries to bat first.

That produced results with opening bowler Wylie taking an early wicket caught behind in the fourth over. However opener Drew Dawson and Stuart Corbett-Byers steered the side past the first ten overs and had reached 40 when Wylie trapped Dawson lbw for double figures and then promptly took another caught at short over.

Apart from Byers that was to be last of the double figures as Kelburne whittled their way through the Dumfries batting. He was the batting mainstay and main scorer as he reached a vital 50 in just 64 balls. The side was nearing the hundred at 96 for 6 but then Sri Lankan off-spinner Jayatissa bowled Corbett-Byers for 53 to halt the hopes of three figures. He rattled through three more wickets to leave Dumfries with 98 all out with seventeen overs left.

However Kelburne were to meet with their own difficulties when they batted as they were two down after four overs with Danny Armstrong and Scott Beveridge making the inroads. They reached a similar position to Dumfries at 30 for 2 after ten overs but Alan Davidson made a characteristic impact by taking two wickets in a over including bowling the home side professional Jayatissa for nine. A caught and bowled by Tapiwa Mufudza made it 5 down and Davidson took his third wicket, caught by keeper Adam Elliott, 46 for 6.

The online Dumfries followers were a bit more concerned when the next update had the score up to 67 but cheered up with news of another Beveridge wicket two runs later. Thirty to get, or three wickets to take. Left-arm spinner Declan Brooks came on successfully to remove top scorer Cook for 14, caught Robert McBride, 75 for 7. However In front of a vocal home support, it was a tense finish as Kelburne got within a few boundaries for victory with 14 needed. However Brooks then emulated the abrupt spin finish of the first innings as he took the remaining two wickets to secure a hard fought 11 run win and final figures for 3 wickets for 3 and with Dawson holding on to the winning catch.

The Moduals Dumfries Man of the Match was Stuart Corbett-Byers for his top first innings score, by a big margin, of 53. The First Division trophy was on hand to be presented to the day’s Captain and Vice-Captain, Scott Beveridge and Stuart Corbett-Byers, and the rest of the Dumfries team after a successful campaign. The side’s one remaining fixture on Saturday is away at Stenhousemuir.

Kelburne v Croma Vigilant Dumfries
Croma Vigilant Dumfries (25) : 98 all out in 32.3 overs.
S Corbett-Byers 53, R Jayatissa 4 for 13, R Wylie 3 for 14
Kelburne (5) : 87 all out in 29.1 overs.
D Brooks 3 for 3, A Davidson 3 for 21
D Armstrong 1 for 21, S Beveridge 2 for 11, T Mufudza 1 for 25
Croma Vigilant Dumfries beat Kelburne by 11 runs

Online Scorecard
http://www.cricketstats.org.uk/wdcu/2019/2/0204.html