Pouring One Out

Sunday the 1st of August saw DCC travel to Perthshire to face Comrie CC in the return fixture after an emphatic Dollar victory in June. Despite a few worries during the week regarding the weather, the conditions set the game up perfectly – fair with a smattering of wispy clouds that could encourage the ball to move side-ways through the air. Both sides had 35 overs to work with and DCC stand-in captain and former Chairman Adam Buchanan-Smith won the toss and elected to bat.

Before the match we paid tribute to the late Comrie Captain, Charlie Gibbons, who sadly passed away all too soon in June. By all accounts he was the lifeblood of cricket in Comrie. Buchanan-Smith offered some very apt sentiments and reminisced over the fond memories our two clubs have shared over the years, due much in part to Charlie’s tireless work.

All in attendance enjoyed a nip of Glendronach’s 21 year old Parliament, generously provided by DCC vice-captain Bruce Harper, as we raised a glass to honour the life and memory of a dear friend of Dollar Cricket Club.

The skipper in tow with Al Stewart, who was making his first appearance of the summer for DCC, got the innings underway. The openers had to have their eyes in quickly as the talented A. Dows and the experienced A. Robertson were gliding the ball through the air. The first wicket would fall in near comedic fashion, an awful mix-up saw both batsmen running towards the same end and unfortunately Stewart, who should avoid shouldering any blame, was run-out. Marcus Tindsley entered the fray and began to make inroads in a stylish fashion. Buchanan-Smith did not dwell on the run-out and began to cannon the ball around the park hitting a variety of boundaries. However, both men would exit in quick succession through the left arm of A. Camaro, ending Buchanan-Smith’s innings for a stellar 35 and Tindsley’s for a decent 13.

The next men in, club stalwarts Simon Breasley and Cameron Glasgow were initially bogged down by some excellent length bowling from the hosts and the run rate was in need of a tow. Glasgow answered the call, fired up the engine, and began swinging. With some aggressive shot making he began to navigate the outfield with ease, including some mammoth maximums all while Breasley did a fine job of holding the other end. Glasgow would walk off with his innings intact for a brilliant 50 not out, then Breasley was caught off Beale for 19 as he tried to put the foot down.

With the overs rapidly dwindling the remaining batsmen did not have the luxury of getting their eyes in and this resulted in Paul Fensom and Rob Morris returning to the boundary edge without using up much of the scorers ink. Ian Morrison (6) and Charlie Dunn (5) scored at a-run-a-ball as they bumped and ran the score to 150 through a 4 from Morrison and some speedy sprints between the sticks. After 35 overs the DCC innings ended with a middling score of 150/6 off 35 overs.

Top Scorers: C. Glasgow (50*), A. Buchanan-Smith (35), S. Breasley (19).

Tim Dillion and Simon Breasley were given the new cherry and both bowlers found some early form seaming the ball to the openers, A. Dows and C. Jennings. After 6 overs of great bowling and a couple of half-chances, Dillion clipped the stumps striking first, and this was quickly followed up by Breasley who, after a chirp in the field from Al. Stewart, clean bowled Dows with a peach. Breasley had found a nice rhythm and soon doubled his wicket total, displaying his trademark Yorkshire swing. With the top order dispatched the skipper changed the bowlers with Charlie Dunn and Tom Hall given the opportunity to keep the match heading in the right direction.

Dunn, who was celebrating his 25th birthday, did not take long in getting himself a present as he bowled Perry with a brilliant leg-stump yorker. The wickets kept tumbling at the other end as Hall echoed last week’s performances displaying rapid reactions to claim a caught and bowled. Dunn who was a tad erratic, added a further two wickets in the form of A. Cameron who failed to get hold of one and Ian Morrison took a fine catch tracking backwards from mid-off, and then the birthday boy forced D. Hassan to edge one to the safe hands of Buchanan-Smith at first slip.

With victory in sight, Marcus Tindsley and Rob Morris were tasked with getting DCC over the line. With the third ball of his spell Morris found the batsman edge and ball was consumed by the safe hands of the captain. Tindsley, who suffocated the final partnership- only conceding one run from 20 balls, made the crucial breakthrough by knocking off Robertson’s bails and confirmed the dominant Dollar victory. Comrie all out for 76.

Best figures: C. Dunn (27 of 5 for 3), S. Breasley (8 of 5 for 2), M. Tindsley (1 of 3.3 for 1)

We always look forward to our trip through the scenic Perthshire countryside and offer thanks to Comrie, in what has been a difficult season for them. We look forward to seeing them again next year and wish them the best of luck for the rest of their season.

Man of the Match: Cameron Glasgow said…
“Great day of cricket on a stunning summers day against our great friends of Comrie CC – a fitting tribute to the memory of Mr Comrie Cricket, Charlie Gibbons. The quality of the whisky for the pre match toast set a high bar but one that was matched by the all round performances.”

RESULT: DCC VICTORY BY 74 RUNS.

Played 7 | Won 5 | Lost 2