12 May 2024 | Buccleuch Park
Sunny and humid with cloud cover | 30 Overs
The team arrived in the Border town of Hawick following a long drive, ready for their first away game of the season. Last year’s fixture resulted in a loss for the visitors by 44 runs, so the Dollar XI (no 12th man) were out to address the record.
C Glasgow (C/Wk) // S Breasley // A Buchanan-Smith // B Harper // R Passe // J Syme // T Dillon // J Priestley // C Hadley // G Dunsire // R Turner
Hawick & Wilton batted first with Glasgow and the other half of the Mitchell brother lookalikes, Bruce Harper opening the bowling attack. The first wicket fell in the first over as a crushing drive from Welsh was plucked out of the air by the bowler a fraction before it knocked all his teeth out. 2 for 1 after 2 minutes. Although no more wickets would fall to the opening pair, good line and length kept the scoring rate low. Syme and Dillon then took over and again kept things tight, only allowing the odd scoring opportunity.
During this period, Hawick’s 2nd wicket partnership of Solley and Humpleby dug in and would eventually add 49 runs from 97 balls. Although stifling the scoring rate, chances were rare and when they did come DCC were unable to make them count. Passe had the chance of a catch at long off from one hit back over bowler Syme’s head, but rather than use his hands, he inexplicably decided to use his nose instead – the resulting injury was luckily a minor one and Passe was quickly back on the pitch. The Hawick duo were eventually dispatched by a fine one-two by Dillon – the first, a delivery that pitched on leg and would have hit the top of middle had it not been for Solley’s pad. No complaint from the batsman as he headed back to the pavilion. The second was again a fine outswinger which took the edge of Humpleby’s bat and a fabulous catch from keeper Glasgow finished the job.
Hawick blooded one of their youngsters next, Sutherland, who stood in at the last minute and deserves a special mention for stoically standing up to the Dollar bowling attack and remaining not out for 8 from 36 balls, the future’s in safe hands.
Some excellent bowling from Hadley, and Breasley kept things exceedingly tight and the run rate low as Dollar rattled through the last ten overs. A confident high catch from Hadley ended Tait’s innings, a direct hit from Deadly Dunsire ran out the big hitting Hair, who obviously doesn’t “do” a dot ball, and finally another catch from el Capitano from a sweet, probing Buchannan-Smith delivery which took an inside edge ended Renwicks innings to bring about Tea.
Hawick all out for 106 (18 extras)
Wicket maidens for Buchanan-Smith and Dillon and a solid 4 overs from Hadley (including a maiden) nicely showcased the bowling talent in the team.
TEA
Following a fine Tea and with the sun hiding behind the cloud and the Oystercatchers screeching overhead like lager louts of the skies, Buck and Breasley stepped out to the wicket.
Buck was on fine form and with the bit firmly between his teeth he began hitting 4’s left, right and centre. However, it was to be a short innings for Breasley who was left frustrated and questioning his positioning after stepped across the wicket and being removed from the game LBW by Welsh “quack”.
Step up Passe who, after not having played for an age, didn’t take long to live up to his moniker “Biff” as he sent the ball hurtling across the pitch with a sense of easy abandonment which was both stylish and utterly watchable, cracking the only 6 of the match.
It was at this point in the match, with a score of 50 after 9.4 overs, that the onlookers, lounging on the bleachers and benches with bellies full of Space Invaders, began wondering if they even needed to pad up. Suddenly the team were jerked back to reality when Buck was out LBW. Having not had the opportunity to bowl, Priestley was moved up the batting order and displayed his desire to get at the bowling attack by literally running out to join Passe in the centre.
The duo produced a superb half-century batting partnership at which point Passe retired on 30 to make way for Turner, in at 5.
With 15 runs for the win, Priestley and Turner thoroughly enjoyed their time at the crease, sharing the runs with Turner making a quick 5 not out and Priestley 24 not out. Game over in the 22nd over.
RESULT
DCC VICTORY BY 7 WICKETS
Season Record
Played 3 | Won 2 | Lost 1