Chaudhary century beats Nunholm

Aug 21 2009 by Our Correspondent, Dumfries Standard Friday

THE DUMFRIES Sunday side lost their friendly match against Gatehouse at Nunholm last Sunday by seven runs.

The match was dominated by a century from Gatehouse’s Chaudhary in their total of 201 for five. Nunholm were seven runs short and four wickets down when their 40 overs ran out.

Nunholm had a promising start, removing the dangerous pair of Mukherjee, caught behind, and Druce, bowled with just 32 runs on the board.

One wicket each went to the young opening attack of Forsyth and Edgar.

Chaudhary came in at number four and started watchfully. However he gradually increased the run rate, and the boundaries, and when Johnstone drew the short straw of the end with the short leg side boundary he took advantage by planting a few sixes near the tennis courts.

He was stoutly supported by Berry with 22 and then Bradley who finished on 20 not out.

Chaudhary was retired when he reached his excellent century with a few overs to go to the relief of the Nunholm bowlers and Gatehouse reached a final tally of 201 for five in the 40 overs.

Alan Davidson finished with three wickets from his eight overs.

Nunholm lost a wicket early to the tight opening attack of pace from Druce accompanied with spin from Chaudhary.

However Farries and Richardson moved the score along into the seventies when Farries was bowled by Pearce for 26 and Richardson followed soon after caught at mid-on, also off Pearce, for 33.

Another wicket brought Peter Johnstone out to join Josh Geary and they then put together a century stand which gave Nunholm a sniff of a win.

That looked unlikely as the partnership started out steadily but as the run rate approached that of the final stages of a Twenty/20 match, they still contrived to get close.

Finally, with 19 needed of the last over, they managed 11 resulting in a Gatehouse win by seven runs.

Johnstone finished on 31 not out and Geary on 68 not out.

The Nunholm analysis at the post match barbecue included a close inspection of the bowling extras conceded by the home side of 11 wides and 15 no balls and in particular one bowler’s seven no balls (the winning margin) including four of them in a row.

Scoreboard: Gatehouse beat Nunholm by seven runs, match ball sponsored by Thomson & Jardine, David Murdoch Agricultural Engineer.

Gatehouse 201/5 (40 overs, S Chaudhary 100ret, D Berry 22, H Bradley 20no, A Davidson 8 overs 3 for 30, C Edgar 8 overs 1 for 30, A Forsyth 4 overs 1 for 23)

Nunholm XI 194/4 (40 overs, J Geary 68no, P Johnstone 31 no, M Richardson 33, J Pearce 8 overs 2 for 28).

B B Body Repairs man of the match for Nunholm: J Geary, sponsored by JP’s Hair & Beauty Salon.