07/05/23 | Dollar | Cloudy & Warm | 35 Overs

After a cancellation against Kinross last Sunday we finally stayed at home for the first time in 2023 to welcome The Forty Club to Dollar for what would prove to be a nail-biter of a contest.

XI: C Glasgow (c/wk) • A Buchanan-Smith • R Nicolson • M Tinsley • B Harper • S Breasley • C Dunn • T Dillon • H Harper • G Dunsire • J Syme

As we took to the field as the clock struck 1 Jason Syme, making an all too infrequent appearance, joined resident new-ball bowler Tim Dillon to get the match underway. Syme’s first three overs would only see one scoring shot come off the bat, including a tight, but turned down appeal for caught behind despite the raucous pleads from the bowler and close fielders.

The openers took some early risks against Dillon, but the first stand would quickly be knocked off its feet as Syme sent down a corker out of his cannon of a right arm that sent the ball blasting through Hillyard blockade and plugged right into the middle of middle stump, beaten for pace, out for 5. Score 15/1 after 5.

In Syme’s very next over he would double up his tally as his unnerving pace pushed the talented South African Coetzer backwards and the ball skiffed the Saffer’s outside edge and made its way to the safe hands of Cameron Glasgow behind the stumps, out for 6.

As the sun began to break through the clouds we were left searching for a similar outcome as the 3rd wicket stand of McMillan and Newberry put us back in the shade. By the end of Dillon and Syme’s opening spells the score sat at 87/2 after 14.

For the first change of the afternoon Captain Glasgow decided he wanted to go swinging and called upon Marcus Tinsley and Simon Breasley to join him. Some early tough chances resulted in some stereotypically Yorkshire bloomin’ heck akin chuntering and other remarks unfit to print.

The partnership then surpassed the 100 mark as both men had us calling for some Nurofen. However the noises of frustration would soon make way for jubilation. Tinsley sent one down that migrated from leg to land just outside-off that flummoxed Newberry into forcing only minimal contact and ball made its way to Adam Buchanan-Smith at 1st slip to take a fine catch, with the added distraction of a diving Glasgow.

Drinks were then called. After a refreshment McMillan decided to call time on his own innings as he retired on a brilliant score of 77, a knock of the highest quality where everything seemed to slow down for him… apart from his run rate. Score, 129/3 after 19.

After drinks we still had a thirst for wickets while our visitors continued to guzzle runs. This led to some varied tactics from the skip as he alternated in Buchanan-Smith and Gregg Dunsire with the incumbent pair. This approach saw the run rate drop as the batsmen had to constantly adjust their strategies to deal with the mix of pace, swing, bounce, and of course a dose ‘deadly’ accurate bowling. With 6 overs to go the score sat at 193/3.

The final change saw Bruce Harper take over from the Ochil end and Charlie Dunn come in from Mylne Avenue. Harper showcased some great death bowling, while Dunn could not quite replicate his newly found net form, yet somehow still managed to pick up 2 wickets. First Balwar misread a full toss that went straight to the hands of Richie Nicolson at catching mid-wicket and then a few balls later McConnachie sent a straight one high up into the air to Harper Snr at mid-off. Score 198/5 after 30.

As Harper The Elder continued his fine spell he quickly turned over his shoulder and fired off a dart to Carr who failed to check his mirrors or signal and manoeuvred the ball straight to Harper The Younger at fine leg – you could not write it. Younger did not look out of place in the field as his energy and skill helped save runs throughout the innings. The remaining overs went by without much incident and after 35 overs The Forty Club sat with a very good score of 222 for 6.

Top Scorers
McMillan, 77* | Balwar, 35 | McConnachie, 33

Best Figures
Syme, 2 for 37 off 7 | Dunn, 2 for 19 off 3 | Harper, 1 for 10 off 3

After the innings there was a quick pitstop for lunch that included a Michelin Star worthy spread of quality sandwiches, high-brow nibbles, and a selection cakes Mary Berry would have been proud of. The cakes were generously baked by Becca Hadley as she looks to raise money for her World Challenge expedition to Borneo next summer!

Buchanan-Smith and Nicolson were tasked to get the reply rolling, albeit not for long as after Nicolson cut away a crisp 4 from Balwar he was bowled 2 balls later to a straight one he ‘should’ve just blocked’, gone for 4. Score, 5/1 after 2.

Tinsley entered the stage and immediately displayed his intent and resolve as he struck his first away to the paint. All while Buchanan-Smith was confidently playing his way into the contest, and both men saw off the early overs and began to read the bowlers as if it was 48 point font.

The pair showcased a sensible contrast in styles as Buchanan-Smith held his end without unnecessary risks which in turn enabled Tinsley to fire off the shots and go hunting for runs. A string of boundaries from the Yorkshireman saw the score leap up through the overs like an excitable spaniel. By this stage Buchanan-Smith was playing a variety of classy shots including his late cut that would make an international envious and one effortless heave to send the ball flying clean over the cows at the corner for 6.

Tinsley, who along the way played just about every shot in his vast arsenal as he had the ball echoing along the Ochils, brought up our first half century of the season with another frantic 4. Unfortunately just before the partnership reached the 100 mark Tinsley became a little over zealous and Ash managed to squeeze the ball past his bat and into the stumps, out for a brilliant 59. Score, 97/2 after 18. Match locked in the balance.

The captain was in at 4 and last season’s leading run scorer looked to lead from the front as he joined Buchanan-Smith. It did not take long for Glasgow to announce his presence as the skip launched a javelin of a ball for an early maximum.

Buchanan-Smith sadly would see his great opening knock cut short prior to reaching his 50 as he was bowled by Smith for 38, an innings that proved that form is merely temporary while class retains in its permanence. Score, 127/3 after 23. 96 required off 72 balls, tense.

Harper the Elder entered as the next man in, modelling our new match shirts adorned by the logos of the Bridge Street Bar and his Pro13 management company. Endless appreciation to Bruce for his unwavering support of this club of ours.

After taking a cautious approach to see off Ash and Smith, the destructive duo looked to dismantle the spirits of the final change. In the blink of an eye the score started to jump up in double digits dosages each time the umpire called over.

Harper was displaying some raw power as he thrashed the ball back past the bowler, while Glasgow was inside the minds of the 40 Club as he answered all their questions straight out of the middle of the bat. Odds shifting in our favour.

As the partnership raced past 50 the finishing line was drawing ever closer. Glasgow struck off back to back 4s with extreme confidence as the score flirted with the 200 mark, but the skip’s day would be cut short as Hillyard finally got one past the bat and bowled Glasgow for a great score of 42, a good captains knock. Score, 193/4 after 31. 30 required from 24.

With the boys by the boundary using their nails as a late innings snack, the cool head of Breasley was in at 6 to join Harper. Facing Cozeter the proprietor of the BSB attempted to call last orders on the match as he walloped the ball high into the afternoon sky for 6, then followed it up with a thunderous one-bounce-4. But with us now less than a run-a-ball from victory Harper’s hurry to get the game won saw him return to the pavilion as he mistimed one and sent it back to Cozeter, out for 40. A fine innings to put us into control of the contest.

Dunn joined Breasley, and after a single of the last ball of the over we were left needing 17 from the final 3 overs. Hillyard gifted 2 runs via consecutive wides to start the over, a boundary followed, then the pair ran off 7 runs from the total across back to back balls. Breasley put Dunn back on strike to cut away the final ball of the over for 4 and match was Dunn done. Breasley ending on 5* with Dunn finishing on 12*. A thrilling victory in an instant classic of a match. One for the books.

Top Scorers
Tinsley, 59 | Glasgow, 42 | Harper, 40

Best Figures
Carl, 1 for 25 from 7 | Ash, 1 for 41 from 7 |

***RESULT***

DCC VICTORY BY 5 WICKETS

The BSB MOTM Marcus Tinsley

A hard choice in a match with so many great performances with both bat and ball, but a solid bowling spell followed up with our first 50 of the season is a worthy MOTM winner.

Tinsley had this to say:
“Say what u want but what a ******* fantastic team performance today! To restrict a team of that quality to 222 and knock them off with 3 overs to spare is ******* brilliant! Onwards and upwards! Oh DCC!”

We offer thanks to The Forty Club for this cracker of a contest, wish them good luck and good health with the rest of the 2023 campaign, and look forward to welcoming them back to Dollar in 2024.

Also, a special mention to Paul Fensom for serving as scorer, tea boy, and umpire in our innings.

We are back in action this Sunday as we welcome Stirling County CC to Dollar as we look to build a winning run. Start time 1300, and as always all are welcome to come a cheer the boys on.

Season record

Played 3 | Won 1 | Lost 2