May 8th – 1st XI vs Worcester Park

Worcester Park 250-9 (50) Dulwich 229-8 (42)

In a pulsating finish, a new-look Dulwich side containing four newcomers failed by just 2 runs to score the 10 needed from the final over of a rain-affected 50-over match. They therefore had to concede defeat in this, their first match in the Shepherd Neame Surrey Championship Division 2, away to newly promoted Worcester Park.

Put in to bat in light drizzle, the home team started briskly despite the loss of two early wickets, reaching 95-2 after 20 overs. Slow left armer Richard Beeching then pegged them back with a miserly spell, bowling his 10 overs straight through to take 2-17. He was well supported by debutant off-spinner James Soulsby, and together they conceded only 19 runs in 11 overs, restricting the score to 114-4 after 31. The return of the quicker bowlers brought an increase in the scoring rate, with 136 runs coming in the last 19 overs, taking the score to 250-9 at the end of their 50 overs. Opener Rob Waite top scored with 76 off 102 balls, while Gary Marshall led the late assault with 46 off 57. The total was boosted by 34 extras, including 15 wide balls costing 26 runs.

32 minutes had been lost to rain in the Worcester Park innings, and under the rules for rain interrupted matches the Dulwich innings was reduced to 42 overs, with a revised target of 231. New skipper Anil Mahey led from the front, hitting 48 from 49 balls, until he was second out with the score on 66 after 17.1 overs. Despite innings of 41 by new Australian overseas player Marshall Hood, and 24 from Tom Howe, scoring proved difficult against accurate bowling, and wickets fell regularly in an attempt to push up the scoring rate. At 152-7 after 35.3 overs, with 79 still needed off only 6.3 overs, Dulwich looked out of it.

Soulsby and fellow debutant James Bridgland had other ideas, and both went for their shots. 67 runs were thrashed off only 5 overs, against 4 different bowlers, before Soulsby was run out going for an unlikely second run, having scored 25 off 14 balls. Bridgland was joined by Arshad Iftikhar with 12 needed off 1.3 overs. The runs were whittled away until Iftikhar needed 4 off the last ball, but South African Andrew Stafford restricted him to just 2 runs, and the match ended in defeat. Bridgland’s valiant effort left him 49 not out, from only 24 balls.

Next week Dulwich entertain Beddington, and will be hoping for an improvement in the weather.