DUMBLETON have become the first Gloucestershire side to lift the Voneus Village Cup after producing a memorable all-round display to defeat holders Calmore Sports by 86 runs at Lord’s.
The WEPL side lost the toss but just about everything else went their way after being asked to bat in the September sunshine, cheered on by coach loads of supporters.
Dumbleton made a steady start, feeling their way into the game at 22-1 from ten and 85-2 at the halfway point before going through the gears to eventually total 241-4 from their 40 overs.
Dumbleton captain Rupert Salmon on his way to an unbeaten 73
Captain Rupert Salmon (73 not from 67, six fours and a six) along with teenager Tommy Boorman (71 from 72) played crucial innings while there were also vital contributions from brothers Myles (39) and Dan Holland (29) as their side set an imposing target.
Ross Martin, whose runs played an important role in Dumbleton’s progress through to their first ever final, may have missed out with the bat but the all-rounder more than made up for it with a devastating new ball burst.
The seamer made the key breakthrough in the fourth over, having the competition’s leading run-scorer Ben Johns, who was hampered by a hamstring injury, caught by Boorman for two.
Player of the match Ross Martin and his team mates celebrate the fall of another wicket
Martin grabbed his second in the eighth over with an inswinger, and four overs later snared two wickets in two balls to finish with dream figures of 4-12 from eight and eventually take the player of the match plaudits.
That spell had Calmore on the ropes at 39-5, and although the holders managed to dig in, a successful chase was never on the cards and they were eventually all out for 155 in the final over.
Jamie Diamond kept the pressure on with a return of 2-28 from seven, Saturday captain Adam Stuart bagged 2-13 from four and there were also wickets for Ollie Horne and Will Sharp along with two catches and a stumping for Gloucestershire Cricket Foundation’s very own Scott Tremain to wrap up a dream day out at Lord’s for Dumbleton.
All images courtesy Philip Wilcox @philipw65