Dunstable run out easy winners

SHL Division 2

Redbourn 149

Dunstable 151-4

Dunstable won by six wickets.

REDBOURN first XI’s 2011 season began disappointingly with a comprehensive defeat at Dunstable.

Redbourn’s day got off to a bad start when captain Dan Roe was taken ill, leaving vice captain Simon Osman in charge. Osman won the toss and elected to bat, looking to put runs on the board and bowl Dunstable out later in the day. Things didn’t go according to plan though, with the recalled Chris Yorath the first to go, caught at point with just 7 on the board. Osman batted fluently, hitting five boundaries before a lapse in concentration saw him bowled for 25. Ben Roe was the only other member of the top order to reach double figures, also falling for 25. At 97-7, Redbourn were relying on their strong lower order to dig them out of trouble and it was another recalled player, Darren Bassill who showed the way with an excellent 45 which gave Redbourn a glimmer of hope of turning things around. Partnerships of 26 and 17 with tailenders Dan Darvell and Jon Fleming allowed Bassill to move the score to 149 before he was last man out with one over left unused.

Redbourn needed early wickets to get back into the game and things were looking up when Fleming trapped Dunstable opener Custance lbw in the fifth over. This was to prove a pivotal over of the game, with the other opener Bhutiya being dropped twice, albeit to sharp chances, and things could have been very different had Dunstable been reduced to 7-2. Bhutiya made the most of the chances given and went on to make 34 to kick start Dunstable’s innings and take the pressure off the incoming batsmen. When Dan Darvell (2-54) removed the dangerous Kilduff to for 44, Redbourn felt they were in with a chance with Dunstable four wickets down and 60 runs still needed. However, some clean hitting by Terry Carr (50 from 35 balls) quickly took the game away from Redbourn and Dunstable eventually ran out easy winners by six wickets.

Redbourn will be working hard in the week to put right what went wrong on Saturday and will expect a much bolder showing when they host Preston on Saturday.