OLD WIMBLEDONIANS 147-7 (33) V DULWICH – Match Abandoned
League cricket finally returned to Dulwich on Saturday in a temporary revised format. With only seven weeks of the season remaining, AJ Fordham Sports and Fullers Brewery, sponsors of the Surrey Championship and Surrey County League respectively, have joined forces to sponsor a Challenge Cup containing a number of regionalized groups. Each group would comprise eight teams playing each other once in 40 over matches.
Dulwich began with a home match against Old Wimbledonians, who would have been one of their opponents this season anyway after winning promotion last year from Division 3. Sushant Marathe survived two edges through the slips off the first three balls from new skipper Jon Lodwick, and got the visitors off to a rapid start, He hit 49 off just 45 deliveries before becoming the second wicket to fall with the score on 69 after 14.2 overs. The Dulwich spinners then reduced their opponents to 147-7 after 33 overs. But at this point rain drove the players from the field, and brought the match to a premature end. Ben Swanson finished with 3-34 off seven overs while Alex Gledhill picked up two wickets and Ahmed Khan one. Opening bowler Simon Harwood had claimed the first wicket, and also pulled off a stunning catch on the long-on boundary.
After the glorious sunshine of April and May it was perhaps predictable that the eventual resumption of cricket would be ruined by the weather. Next week Dulwich have a tough match away to first division Spencer when they will be hoping the conditions will allow a full game to be completed.