It’s the Pitts for APD’s cup hopes

Jun 26 2009 by Iain Pollock, Dumfries Standard Friday

ON SUNDAY it was the ‘away-leg’ as APD Dumfries again faced Prestwick this time in the first round of the Scottish Cup.

With three changes to the Dumfries side, it was revenge for Prestwick by 54 runs as they scored 224 all out batting first.

It was a case of the Pitts for Dumfries as one Prestwick Pitt (D) scored 92 not out and another (G) took three wickets. The doonhamers’ performance was marred by a series of dropped catches and other opportunities not going their way. Second top scorer for Prestwick was from number 11 (G Pitt of course) who hit 26.

The bowlers shared the wickets with Robert McBride and Chris Bellwood taking two each and Alan Davidson three and Prestwick were, at one stage, 80 for 5 and later 166 for nine. However despite the Dumfries match ball being sponsored by Willliam Jardine, Funeral Directors, the last rites weren’t administered until too late in the second last over.

The wicket wasn’t straightforward to bat on and it took a skillful innings from young Thomas McBride opening the batting to stabilise the reply as he scored his first fifty for the firsts. The in-form Stuart Corbett-Byers contributed 31 but he was crucially out with the score at 142. At that point the target was 80 odd in 17 overs.

However 20 runs later McBride was run out for 67 as the last five wickets fell for just four runs when instead 60 runs were needed off the last 12 overs. Nine overs were left when that last wicket fell in the 41st over and the side were left to rue missed chances and the 38 runs conceded in extras.

Match scoreboard: Scottish Cup, match ball sponsored by William Jardine Funeral Directors and Joiners. APD Dumfries lost to MGM Prestwick by 54 runs. MGM Prestwick 224 all out (48.2 overs, D Pitt 92 no, A Davidson 10 overs 3 for 34, R McBride 10 overs 2 for 37, C Bellwood 9.2 overs 2 for 40).

APD Dumfries 170 all out (40.5 overs, T McBride 67, S Corbett-Byers 31, F Roger 3-25, G Pitt 3-27, M Morrison 3-48). Dumfries man of the match: Thomas McBride.