Opening frailties with the bat prove costly for Dunmow
Matthew Gibson. Picture by Jamie Pluck - Credit: Archant
Dunmow’s top order batting frailties were exposed again as they fell to defeat to Ipswich in the Two Counties Championship Division Two.
The result was Dunmow’s second loss from three games played so far this season.
Winning the toss for the third week running, Dunmow skipper Paul Reid elected to bowl.
However, this week the opening bowlers were unable to make any significant breakthroughs and Rob Southall in particular batted well for 70 at the top of the innings.
Steve Hamlin, bowling first change was able to claim the wickets of Joe Rusby for 13, Chris Bell for a duck and Rob Southall in a controlled spell of 3-38.
Baz Sewell wheeled away and thought he had Louis Perrin caught at the wicket, but the decision was not given and he went on to make 51.
With the score at 140-4 with 16 overs left, Matt Gibson was recalled to the attack, and in combination with Nav Ali put the brakes on while taking wickets at the same time.
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Gibson claimed Ismail Mohammed, Jack Elford and Perrin to finish with 3-56, while Ali finished with 1-48.
Late hitting from Mark Phillips and Kevin Smith got the hosts to 215-7 but on a good deck, Dunmow were confident of chasing it down.
These hopes all but evaporated however within nine balls of their innings.
Luke Swanston was caught behind and Nick Coupe was dismissed lbw, both for ducks.
Pressure was maintained by bowlers John Howe and Damien Smith, but Joe Gallant and Ali rebuilt to an extent, further reinforced by a 50 partnership between Reid and Gallant when Ali was dismissed.
Reid fell at 73-4 for 27, closely followed by Joe Gallant for a season’s best 33 after a mix up with Nick Kesingland.
The latter tried to make amends with 36 from 17 balls, but once he fell after attempting one shot too many, the tail were exposed to the skill of Southall (3-32) and the returning Smith (4-32) as they were finally dismissed for 136, claiming only five points in the process.
On Saturday Dunmow host Easton, while the 2nds travel to Boxford.
