Cricket: Dumfries falter at Falkland

Jun 19 2009 by Our Correspondent, Dumfries Standard Friday

Stuart Corbett-Byers scored a second consecutive century on Saturday at Falkland in National League Division 2 but it wasn't enough to prevent APD Dumfries losing by just 14 runs.

Second placed Dumfries opted to put leaders Falkland in on what proved to be a good cricket wicket offering bounce and carry as well as turn for the spinners.

They had a steady opening partnership with Patterson's inswing proving very difficult to get away and he was supported by good pace from Robert McBride.

However the Falkland professional, Thakkar, was making batting look easy and it was a loose shot from his partner Graeme Watson off Geary that achieved the breakthrough and had him caught behind the stumps when the score was 49.

Chris Bellwood got the second wicket in his first over and after 30 overs Dumfries were in a promising position with Falkland at 88 for two.

However the scoring rate was upped considerably as the middle order looked to punish anything loose on a good wicket.

Gray hit a quick fire 28 including 2 huge sixes off a benevolent Davie Davidson.

Paul Watson carried on where he left off and finished on 43 not out while Thakkar was dismissed for 87 on the two hundred mark thanks to a Corbett-Byers stumping while standing up to opening bowler McBride.

Alan Davidson picked up two wickets as did Chris Bell wood and Ross Laidlaw dusted off his whites to produce an excellent effort in the field as Falkland reached 257 for seven.

In the Dumfries innings, both openers went in the early overs but unfortunately for Falkland this only meant that Corbett-Byers was at the crease sooner.

He started as if last week's century was just a drinks break in the past. Anything not arrowing for middle stump was dispatched with ease. The view of one seasoned observer was that it was one of the best innings he has seen played for Dumfries, if not the best.

He was supported by the in-form Geary batting at four and the pair had a century partnership until he was caught for a controlled 48.

At the 30 over mark Dumfries had been at 142 for two, some 50 runs ahead of the Falkland position. All was seemingly in-hand with Byers at the crease but he was dismissed for an excellent 103 and the target for the remaining batsman had become 64 off 10.

However the spin of Singh and the pro Thakkar were given the closing overs and the former kept claiming victims, including Chris Bellwood for an assured 23, as wickets kept falling in keeping the run rate in sight.

The last wicket fell with two balls left and 15 runs wanted as left-armer Singh spun out the last six wickets and his side to an important win.

And after all that stand-in captain Byers, wicketkeeper and the day's centurion, then had to drive the bus and his noisy and tuneless team-mates home.

Match scorecard: National League Division 2, match ball sponsored by Annandale Insurance Brokers

Falkland beat APD Dumfries by 14 runs,

Falkland 257-7 (50 overs, B Thakkar 87, P Watson 43*, C Bellwood 2-44, A Davidson 2-32, J Geary 1-32, R McBride 1-58),

APD Dumfries 243 all out (49.4 overs, S Corbett-Byers 103, J Geary 48, C Bellwood 23, A Singh 6-32)

Dumfries Man of the Match: Stuart Corbett-Byers, sponsored by the Nunholm Card School

Weekend fixtures

APD Dumfries have a double header against Prestwick this weekend.

They play them at home on Saturday in National League Division 2 and then they travel to Prestwick on Sunday to also play them in the first round of the Scottish Cup.

JMS Nunholm are away at Anniesland on Saturday in Western Union Division 2.