Dulwich (175 all out in 62.4 overs) lost to Sutton (179 for8 off 56.4 overs) by 2 wickets
Left arm spinner Anthony Dalton spearheaded a recovery which enabled Dulwich to force Championship leaders, Sutton to the last over of the match but they were forced to concede defeat by two wickets with only two balls to spare.
Dulwich elected to bat but found scoring difficult against the experienced Henderson Clarke and former Surrey quickie Phil Sampson in helpful conditions. The opening bowlers claimed a wicket apiece with only 13 runs on the Dulwich scoreboard. Dai Williams joined debutant, Jimmy Daley and together they saw off the opening bowlers to the score to 67. Williams was dismissed by off spinner Andy Seifers for 24 and former Durham batsman Daley fell to Seifers for 33. Mihir Singh was lbw to Bilal Butt to leave Dulwich precariously poised at 77-5 at lunch.
Skipper, Mark Kelly and Usman Jan took the score to 101however the dismissals of Jan for 10, Kelly for 33 and Dalton for 1 reduced Dulwich to 125 for 8. For the second week running, Dave Burton spearheaded a tail end fight back aided by Geordie keeper, Ryan Birbeck who contributed 6 in a ninth wicket stand of 36. Arshad Iftikhar, making his debut after coming through the Dulwich elevens helped Burton by adding 4 as the pair inched the score to an ultimately disappointing 175. Dave Burton top scored with 36 not out.
Dave Sampson and former Dulwich colt, John Fry survived testing opening spells from Burton and Iftikhar to post 42 for the first wicket in eighteen overs. The advent of off spinner Singh brought the breakthrough, claiming Fry for 21 and Sampson for 33 to make Sutton 57-2. Will Muse and Arun Harinath joined forces in a stand of 65 which took the score to 122 with 19 overs remaining. The introduction of Dalton into the attack brought the wicket of Harinath for 35 in his second over. He quickly followed up with Gary Outram for 7 and Muse for 30 in his fourth over. Sutton now needed 30 off 8.5 overs for a win. Dalton dismissed Butt for 11 with the score on 166 and Sigh claimed Sutton keeper Russell Coombe for 2 on 169. Nerves were jangling around the ground as Sutton needed seven runs off eleven balls while Dulwich needed two wickets. All results were possible! Sutton skipper and ex England player Keith Medleycott needed all his experience and nine balls to guide Sutton home with two balls to spare. Medleycott finished on 26 not out while Dalton took 5-38 off 10.4 overs and Singh 3-39 off 14 overs.
Despite losing to the league leaders, skipper Mark Kelly and his Dulwich side can reflect on a much improved performance as they prepare to travel to Esher next Saturday in the Premier League of the Shepherd Neame sponsored Surrey Championship.
|
