U13s battle for top spot

Jun 12 2009 by Our Correspondent, Dumfries Standard Friday

THE DUMFRIES and Galloway Junior Cricket League entered the second half of its early summer season on Sunday with the two sides from the west of the region battling it out for the top-spot.

Having played an extra match the score between them was one-apiece and this was the decider. It turned out to be a closely fought affair with several note-worthy achievements.

The Dumfries Injuns batted first and Chris McBride and Chris Lumb were the stars of the innings – putting on a half-century partnership.

McBride fell to a classic leg-break from Gordon ‘Shane’ Walker which brought back memories – to the older generation – of a certain Mike Gatting.

Undeterred, Lumb carried on towards his personal 50 – only to be denied by the Cowboys best bowler on the day.

Needing one run with one ball left he couldn’t quite manage to clear the infield. Fraser Strachan it was who was the deserving bowler.

In reply the Dumfries Cowboys started steadily against some tight bowling from Temlett and Collingwood and the stage was set for their big two of Niall Alexander and Chris Berry to take their side home.

Even when young Aiden Collingwood cleaned bowled Alexander the smart money was on the hard-hitting Berry but captain Michael Temlett proved to be the match winner – four dot-balls, including a wicket, in the last over of the match was enough to ensure victory and put his side in pole-position for a league title.

Scoreboard: Dumfries Injuns beat Dumfries Cowboys by seven runs.

Dumfries Injuns 113 /4 (Chris Lumb 49, Chris McBride 25, Todd Rafferty 14 no; Fraser Strachan 2-14, Gordon Walker 2-31).

Dumfries Cowboys 106/6 (Niall Alexander 39, Chris Berry 18 no, Adam Lawrie 15, Alex Long 11; Michael Temlett 3-16, Todd Rafferty 2-10).