Freuchie Cricket Club vs Dollar Cricket Club
Date: 15/05/22 | Location: Freuchie CC Ground | Overs: 30 | Conditions: Warm, with cloudy intervals
On Sunday we were back in action against a new foe in the shape of Freuchie. After our defeat last week to The 40 Club, the importance of returning to Dollar with a win took on a new significance as we looked to start a new winning run. Captain Sandy Cunningham won the toss and sent us in to have a bat.
Adam Buchanan-Smith, as per, opened the batting and was joined in the middle by Marcus Tinsley. Our opponents had youth on their side, but their opening pair of quicks had talent that defied their years. BS took no time at all to get the score ticking, as he smashed the first ball away for 4. After taking a few balls to get his eye in Tinsley followed suit and began taking it to the bowlers. The first 5 overs went by without incident and runs were not hard to find, until Buchanan-Smith was hit high on the pads and despite only a murmured appeal the experienced umpire raised his index finger, out for 16. Score, 30/1.
The skipper was the next man in, and was in a hurry to send the score soaring, as with his 5th ball he sent the cherry flying back over the bowlers head, boundary wall, and sent the fielders back to school to retrieve the ball. By this stage nothing was fazing Tinsley as he drove, cut, and pulled all around the outfield, frequently acquainting the ball with the boundary. He kept motoring and brought up a brilliant half-century, retired for 51.
The newly elected Vice-Captain, Cameron Glasgow joined the Captain in the middle. Glasgow, like Cunningham, only had one thing in mind: boundaries. The pair raced the score past the 100 mark, and found great success attacking the cow-corner and long-off boundaries. Cunningham positioned himself in the mid-40s with his second maximum; this one careening into the sight-screen at the other end from the first. His quest for a third 6 would be his undoing as he looked to bring up his 50 in style, but mistimed it and was caught at square leg for 44, off only 26 balls. Score, 128/2.
Glasgow’s VC predecessor, Bruce Harper wandered out next, and the fast scoring perfectly suited his brutal shotmaking prowess. Glasgow began taking another Glasgow to the cleaners, and looked set to leave the crease with his wicket intact, but the ex-Scotland Woman’s international, L. Wilkinson, trapped him on the pads and sent him back to the pavilion for 33, off 19.
Charlie Dunn, who has struggled for runs this season, joined Harper and was presented with a perfect opportunity to finally use some of the scorers ink. The openers were brought back on, but Harper was continuing the barrage of boundaries, all while Dunn managed to see the ball away from the middle of the bat, but developed a knack for zipping the pill straight to the fielders. Despite a few communication errors, the duo scampered well between the sticks and saw the score past 200 with ease. After a lull in the scoring, Harper got the run rate back on track by thrashing it through the fielders scattered on the leg side, all while Dunn was scoring 1s and 2s off almost every ball. After the final over went for 15, Harper finished one run shy of his 50, and Dunn achieved a solid 20 not out.
DCC: 224 for 3
Tinsley, 51* | Harper, 49* | Cunningham, 44
Tea was taken, and we give our appreciation to all those at Freuchie CC who kept us fed with what Captain Cunningham described as ‘a proper cricket tea.’
Defending a large total it was important that we got off to an assured start to dampen any chances of a Freuchie charge. Regular opener Tim Dillion got the effort underway, and was supported at the other end by the one and only Phil Rourke, making an all too rare appearance. The two opening bats had skill in abundance, but the wait for the first scalp was not a long one. Dillion went for the stumps and C. Glasgow (not that one) hurriedly got his bat in the way, only for it to pop to debutant Robert (Bobb) Turner at mid-on. Score, 13/1 after 3 overs.
With a youngster coming out next, both men were forced to take a few knots out of the sails, but they both kept hitting their marks, and Rourke in-particular was giving the lefty, I. Wilkinson, nothing. Young McGlauglin did a fine job at surviving, but in the end was no match for Dillion who found his off stump. A couple more half-chances off Dillion went begging and the openers would end their spells with the score at 34/2 after 12 overs… one way traffic.
The skipper replaced Rourke, and subbed Dunn in for Dillion. By this stage the result was somewhat of a foregone conclusion, as both bats were content with blocking and leaving. The lack of competition started to frustrate Dunn and his concentration dropped, which led to him misplacing his crosshairs. Cunningham (keeper) was not fazed and displayed his professionalism as he kept the odd stray ball going for 4. Score after Dunn and Cunningham’s spells, 73/3.
With the rest of the overs now little more than a formality the skip turned to Buchanan-Smith and Harper to quickly race through their overs. Buchanan-Smith kept the Fifers guessing, while Harper displayed a good amount of zip and deservedly picked up a scalp as L. Wilkinson edged the ball to be ‘caught behind’ by Glasgow… after a detour high into the afternoon sky. The final ball was bowled and Freuchie reached 90 for 4 after 30 overs.
An extra special mention goes to club stalwarts, Simon Breasley and Jason Syme, who did not get a bat, and given the outlook of the game it was decided that Breasley’s swing and Syme’s speed could be saved for another day. They both did a fine job at keeping things entertaining in the field as the contest raced towards its conclusion. And of course to Callum Kirby who came over to Fife to support the team while he recovers from his shoulder injury.
We give thanks to our opponents, especially considering this was meant to be a Dollar home game and they prepared a fine pitch at the last minute. Also, we are very appreciative to one of the non-playing members who scored the match in our book and scored as well as anyone ever has in the old book! We wish them luck for the rest of the season.
RESULT: DOLLAR CRICKET CLUB VICTORY by 124 runs.
Motm: Sandy Cunningham & Marcus Tinsley
Season Record: Played 3 | Won 2 | Lost 1