The Dumfries Sunday XI managed yet another last over finish in the Eden Valley Sunday League but ended ten runs short against Penrith. That was despite a valiant innings by Adam Malik that earned him the Thomson and Jardine Player of the Match award.
Penrith batted first, with the innings based upon a score of fifty from opener Sumner, and they reached a total of 163 with Dumfries working their way through the wickets to take seven. Those wickets were shared around with Adam Malik taking two, and one each to opening bowler Finley Trigg, Sultan Kamran, Dashiel Trigg and Angus Middlemiss. The fielders contributed with a direct hit run out by Dashiel and an excellent catch running backwards by Edward Ellicott.
Dumfries started well with Kamran hitting four boundaries until the same result was not repeated and he was caught for 25. Then any chase of the total seemed unlikely at 61 for 5 down. However, Adam Malik successfully worked his way to the retiral score of fifty. Then the vagaries of the Sunday rules took effect, and he returned later for the last wicket partnership with 12-year-old Dashiel, and with over fifty runs needed.
Then with judicious running, runs refused, Penrith trying different bowlers and Malik hitting boundaries, the pair prevailed and Dumfries got closer. The last over arrived with eleven runs needed with fielders arrayed around the boundary for Adam. However, one final piece of calculated running led to confusion and Dashiel was run out for 9, attempting to get Adam back on strike. Malik reached an impressive 84 not out having hit powerfully to elude the boundary fielders.
Online scorecard
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Sunday XI lost to Penrith by 9 runs (Eden Valley Sunday League)
Penrith 163-7 (36 overs)
L. Sumner 50 rtd
A. Malik 2 wkts
F. Trigg 1 wkt
D. Trigg 1 wkt and 1 run out
S. Kamran 1 wkt
A. Middlemiss 1 wkt
Sunday XI 154 all out (35. 2 overs)
A. Malik 84 no
S. Kamran 25
D. Trigg 9