Dumfries win last over thriller at Lanercost

Dumfries Sunday XI played in the Eden Valley Sunday League at Lanercost and confirmed the aphorism that a close game is a good game.

Lanercost opted to bat first and two significant partnerships ensured they reached a substantial total in the 36 over innings although James Hobman did strike early by bowling one opener. His opening bowling partner, Matt Pickstock, had Mitchelson lbw for 21 and spinner Aiden Goodin took another wicket bowled to set Lanercost back at 44 for 3.

However Ben Tiffen joined Skeer and did the bulk of the run scoring in a problem eighty run partnership. Hyder Hussain and Harith Hassan bowled economically but deceptive Dave Lightfoot proved Tiffen's undoing with a caught and bowled, and promptly had a stumping by keeper Fergus Bainbridge as well. Skeer had another partnership with Thompson (26) but the return of Pickstock removed the obdurate Skeer after a sterling innings of 60 and with an celebrated lbw appeal which was registered by the other away team in Inverleith.

So the chase was on for Dumfries with a score of 187 for 6 to surpass. Captain Mat Williams and Gurupal Singh teed things up with a opening start and Singh and Max Corbett-Byers set off down the fairway, and at the required run rate of fives, not fore, for their substantial partnership. Dumfries reached 91 for 1 at the half way point of 18 overs. Singh was retired for hard hitting fifty, after 5 fours and one huge six wide of long-on, and after a replacement bat was required. Max was caught after a good innings of 32 and with nine overs to go the score was 133, with 54 to get, and with a good approach to the green needed for the six runs an over required.

Dumfries were holding their nerve and run machine Jerry Goodin and James Hobman took the game to the last over with all results still possible and four required. They successfully holed out by scoring the winning runs with just 2 balls left. Goodin controlled the final run chase and finished unbeaten with an assured 41 and Hobman hit a confident 26 not out for a well fought eight wicket win for Dumfries.

Leg spinner Harith Hassan was marked as one to watch by the opposition after an excellent senior debut and the Solway Print Player of the Match, on a day of contributions, just went to Gurupal Singh for setting up a tricky run chase for his side.

Lanercost 187 for 6 (36 overs)
G Skeer 60, B Tiffen 42; M Pickstock 2 for 38, D Lightfoot 2 for 23
A Goodin 1 for 28, J Hobman 1 for 17
Dumfries Sunday XI 188 for 2 (35.4 overs)
G Singh 50rtd, J Goodin 41no, M Corbett-Byers 32, J Hobman 26no
Dumfries won by 8 wickets

Online Scorecard: dumfriescc.play-cricket.com/website/results/4823411

Photo: Matt planning his LBW celebration. Credit Lanercost CC