APD Dumfries toil in the play-off sun

Sep 18 2009 by Susan Bryden, Dumfries Standard Friday

APD Dumfries failed to do themselves justice in their promotion play-off match against Penicuik on Saturday at Stirling.

They lost to the Division one side by seven wickets to miss out on promotion from National League Division 2 and what would have been their highest ever league position.

Penicuik opted to bowl first which proved the correct decision as Dumfries found themselves on the wrong end of the conditions on what proved to be a soft wicket and an outfield which had been under water earlier in the week. However overhead it was turning out to be one of the sunniest days of the season.

Penicuik struck early in the third over when Davie Davidson was tempted by some width and was caught in the slips off Hutton. Tommy McBride and Chris Bellwood didn’t find scoring easy but extras helped and the pair had reached 30 when Bellwood attempted to drive on the leg side only to be caught at gully off Ramzan.

McBride followed a few runs later caught low at short cover attempting a drive. Runs remained hard to find as Penicuik took the pace off the ball with Willie Morton spinning away from the pavilion end.

Josh Geary attempted to drive the seamers of Aslam and was bowled and Dumfries were struggling at the half way point with just 54 for 4 on the board. Scott Beveridge and Stuart Corbett-Byers eased the score up to 86 but then Beveridge lofted a catch to mid-on off Keith Morton.

Alan Davidson joined Byers to revive Dumfries hopes with a partnership which was one short of 50 when Byers attempted to repeat an earlier six but was caught at long-on. At that point the side were searching for runs with overs running out. Alan Davison was bowled for a much needed 26 and the innings subsequently closed on 152 for seven.

Dumfries really needed to bowl and field well and apply early pressure. Unfortunately it was the extras that formed much of Penicuik’s initial reply with the first runs scored off the bat coming in the sixth over. That was after Robert McBride and Josh Geary opened the attack in the absence of Alexander and Patterson and induced several plays and misses.

However the openers, the professional Ramzan and Scotland U19 player Coleman, weathered the initial overs and with runs leaking through extras and with them succeeding in putting away the loose ball for four on a faster outfield they were not under pressure to look for runs.

Skipper Beveridge trapped Coleman LBW for 30 but the total had reached 63 and the required run rate was well below three an over.

The 100 mark was passed in the 25th over with Beveridge bemoaning the several edges not reaching the hands of the slips as he set a wicket taking field. A wicket eventually came his way when Ramzan was caught for a patient 28 having put his side in sight of a relegation avoiding win.

Although Davie Davidson got Aslam LBW for 39 Penicuik were in the home straight and they concluded a comfortable win by seven wickets when Penicuik stalwart Willie Morton, in what may prove to be his last game, off drove for four to start the survival celebrations.

In the end Dumfries didn’t perform to their capabilities and were outplayed by the better side on the day. Too many wickets were lost too early for too few in their innings and they were unable to exert control when Penicuik came to bat which was exemplified by extras top scoring with 41.

The only bright spot of the day was a win by Kelburne in another play-off match played on the second Stirling pitch. This promoted them from the Western Union and ended any question marks about Dumfries seconds, Nunholm, being a third team relegated from Western Union Division 2.

In their four years in the national leagues APD have finished second, fourth, fourth and once again second. The side will just have to be one match wiser and better prepared for another promotion challenge in National League Division 2 next season.

Scoreboard: APD Dumfries lost to Penicuik by seven wickets at New Williamsfield, Stirling. APD Dumfries 152-7 (50 overs, S Corbett-Byers 36, A Davidson 26, J Hutton 3-28).

Penicuik 153-3 (33.2 overs, M Ramzan 28, F Coleman 30, A Aslam 39, S Beveridge 8 overs 2 for 37, D Davidson four overs one for 19). Dumfries man of the match: Stuart Corbett-Byers, sponsored by the Nunholm Car School