DUNSFORD V HARBERTON – Sunday 18^th April 2010

· Played at Dunsford

· Toss won by Dunsford

· Harberton 218 for 5 wickets in 40 overs

· Dunsford 206 for 9 wickets in 40 overs

· Harberton won by 12 runs

For an opening game of the season, this was a remarkable match – a real run festival played in warm sunny conditions on a hard batting track rarely seen so early in the season where pitches are usually wet, spongy and unreliable.

Dunsford won the toss and asked Harberton to bat first, probably hoping to take advantage of the new ball which would perhaps make early batting difficult. Captain Jack Buckner and his son Christian opened the innings and it soon became clear that the intention was to go for quick runs to keep the scoreboard ticking over. The tactic proved very successful as the first 50 runs were scored at more than 5 an over. Inevitably the first wicket to fall was a result of a run out as Christian called for yet another risky quick single leading to Buckner senior failing to get in after an athletic piece of Dunsford fielding. With Harvey and Ray falling cheaply, the scoring rate slowed as Harberton staggered to 99 in the 23^rd over. Christian Buckner, who had never scored a fifty, grew in confidence as the innings progressed, punishing the occasional bad ball and scampering for quick singles with his new partner Toby Tobias who was showing the promise that became apparent at the end of last season. The pair took the score to 150 in the 31^st over before Tobias had a swing at Bruce and was bowled for a very useful 21. Oakey entered intent on going after the bowling and scored a rapid 28 to help take the score over what looked a match winning 200. Meanwhile 15 year old Buckner continued to score rapidly reaching a chanceless century with his 18^th boundary. He finished with a remarkable unbeaten 105 out of a total of 218. Pick of the Dunsford bowlers were C Powsty (2-37) Bruce (1-31) and Day (0-24) as the whole Dunsford team bowled and fielded gamely on a bat friendly wicket.

If Harberton thought they had a winning total they were in for a shock. Openers Perry and Dudbridge made it clear that they were out to match the Harberton performance. Lagden bowled well with little success while the wayward Goldsmith was punished severely. Again steady batting and good running between the wickets led to the 50 partnership being posted in the 23^rd over. Perry going for a big hit mistimed and skied to Harvey for 33 with the score at 89 off the bowling of debutant Yarnell whose remarkable first over (8 balls) in several years resulted in 19 runs and the vital breakthrough wicket. The game turned on the introduction of Oakey into the attack. He bowled with pace and accuracy using the well disguised slower ball to create havoc as wickets fell regularly and Dunsford collapsed to 169 for 8 wickets. The dismissal of the excellent Dudridge bowled by Oakey (5 for 17) was the turning point of the game.

Dunn with an aggressive 38 kept the scoreboard rolling as Dunsford closed dangerously on the Harberton score. With Lagden (1-23) coming on at the end and man of the match Christian Buckner getting two late wickets, Harberton staggered home with 12 runs to spare. A superb end to a great game played in good spirit by both teams. If this is a taster for the new season, give us more!