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Dumfries Sunday XI Breeze Past Ayr

On a muggy, humid day at Nunholm, Dumfries' winning streak almost came to a sticky end against Ayr on Sunday. The visitors won the toss and chose to field first in a match reduced to 35 overs for each team but, as it would turn out, neither team would use all of these overs.

Dumfries' innings got off to a poor start as some soft early wickets fell, jeopardising the course of the innings. However the momentum began to swing in Dumfries' favour once Douglas Brotherston came to the crease. He bludgeoned his way to a team, and match best, 47 with the help of two huge sixes, one of which was very close to causing damage in the car park had it not thumped into the sightscreen, before being caught at mid-on.

This and Josh Geary's impressive 44 were the only real positives of the Dumfries innings but the scorers were kept busy as Dumfries raced to 100 in just under 10 overs but an utter meltdown in the batting saw Dumfries get bowled all out for just 156 runs in less than 30 overs. The best bowling figures from Ayr were those of R Borland who picked up 2-56.

Dumfries needed to hope that their effort in the field was better than their batting and they got off to the best start possible with Stephen Temlett picking up a wicket in the very first over. Wickets continued to fall for Dumfries but when the rain and dark, menacing clouds arrived it seemed that the weather may have beaten both teams but they persisted and eventually the game was going in one direction.

After Josh Geary caught Borland off of the bowling of Chris Bellwood (3-15) for 24 the game was nearly won. Douglas Brotherston's bowling then finished the game as Ayr were all out for 115.

It was not the most convincing win for Dumfries but they sit top of the league and they will be hoping for another 6 points on the 5th of July at home to Kelburne.

Match Scoreboard: Strathclyde Sunday League, match ball sponsored by DBH Erections
Dumfries XI beat Ayr by 44 runs
Dumfries XI 159 All Out (D Brotherston 47, J Geary 44)
Ayr 115 All Out (C Bellwood 3 for 15)

B & B Body Repairs Man of the Match: Douglas Brotherston

The Cub Reporter

APD Dumfries caught short at Corstorphine

It was "every run a prisoner" for APD Dumfries in a low scoring encounter at RH Corstorphine in National League Division 2 last Saturday. Unfortunately for the Dumfries side it was their opponents that played the get out of jail free card to claim a 22 run win in a match reduced to 38 overs a side.

The Edinburgh side were asked to bat first in conditions that meant that runs were hard to score. Their opener and professional Mommsen applied himself and reached the highest score of the day, a mere 34. Opening bowler Stuart Alexander bowled a tight spell and succeeded in getting player/coach McClaren caught behind and when Mommsen was dismissed by Beveridge three wickets were down for 55 off 16 overs.

A crucial partnership between Adams (31) and Holstein for the 5th wicket added over 40 and it was the latter who was run out at 114 with four overs left. Those added an extra 17 runs while Jerry Goodin snapped up three wickets as Corstorphine finished on 131 for 8.

The story of the Dumfries innings was the loss of wickets at crucial times and several batsmen got into the teens but were unable to play the match winning innings. Geary and Alan Davidson had moved the side to a hopeful 85 for 4 with a much needed forty run partnership. However nearly five runs an over were required at that point and when both were dismissed at that score the pressure was on the remaining batsmen. Instead the remaining four wickets fell adding 24 runs and the side were short by a not so distant 22 runs with four overs still left.

The result meant RH Corstorphine took over second spot from APD Dumfries who now sit fourth. This Saturday they travel to Weirs who are third from bottom in Division 2.

Match Scoreboard: Scottish National League Division 2, match ball sponsored by B B Body Repairs
RH Corstorphine beat APD Dumfries by 22 runs, away. Match reduced to 38 overs a side.
RH Corstorphine 131-8 (38 overs, P Mommsen 34, J Goodin 4 overs 3 for 31,
S Beveridge 7 overs 2 for 24)
APD Dumfries 109 all out (35 overs, J Geary 23, A Davidson 20, K McLaren 3 for 20)