Dulwich 146 all out (61.5 overs) lost to Reigate Priory 147-3 by seven wickets
Dulwich were unable to maintain their recent good form and succumbed to an emphatic seven wicket defeat at second placed Reigate Priory. Dulwich elected to bat but got off to a disappointing start when the prolific Jimmy Daley was bowled by Paul Koch for 10 with the score on 17. Anil Mahey and Richard Farrow batted confidently against Koch and Aaron Pope taking the score past 50 in the 17th over. The introduction of Sairaj Bahutule and Stuart Hume changed the complexion of the match.
Indian test leg spinner Bahutule in particular got turn and lift picking up three wickets in consecutive overs. The Reigate overseas player snared Farrow for 19, Dai Williams for 2 and Mark Kelly without scoring. Hume at the other end dismissed Mahey for 33 as Bahutule snapped up youngster, Tom Howe.
Dulwich lost five wickets for 13 runs collapsing to 76-6 from 63-1. Dave Burton joined Sunny Singh in a partnership of 39 for the seventh wicket before Burton fell to Hume for 28 and Singh was dismissed by Bahutule for 21. Vikram Banerjee was left not out for 15 as Dulwich were dismissed for 146 with the Reigate spinners grabbing nine wickets as Bahutule recorded 5-49 off 24 overs and Hume 4-47 off 22.5 overs.
In reply skipper Alex Richards and keeper Mark Bennett withstood a testing opening spell by Burton to add 60 for the first wicket in just fourteen overs. Slow left armer Banerjee dismissed Bennett for 29 and in his next over had Chris Murtagh caught behind for 1. Dulwich came right back into the game when Aussie Michael Forster ran himself out first ball to reduce the Priory to 62 -3.
Former Somerset batsman Simon Ecclestone proved equal to the task however and raced to 51 not out off only 44 balls. Richards also finished not out on 47 as Reigate reached their target in the 30th over. Banerjee was the only Dulwich bowler to take a wicket and finished with 2-46 off 11.5 overs.
Despite the loss Dulwich remain in fifth place and next week entertain local rivals Wimbledon who are still reeling from a twenty points deduction in the Premier League of the Shepherd Neame sponsored Surrey Championship.
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