Result: Dulwich 147 (44.5) lost to Old Rutlishians 148-1 (35.5) by 9 wickets
A DEPLETED Dulwich side lacking three first choice players were thoroughly outplayed in their AJ Fordham Surrey Championship match at home to Old Rutlishians last weekend, and went down to defeat by nine wickets.
Dulwich elected to bat, and skipper Ed Stolle and first team newcomer Chris Purhouse added 24 for the first wicket in 7.4 overs before the latter was lbw. The score had reached 37 after 12 overs when the opening bowlers gave way to spin in the shape of leg spinner Ross Trimmings and off spinner Michael Jones. These two took two wickets apiece, and imposed such a stranglehold that Trimmings conceded just 16 runs off his first nine overs before uncharacteristically giving away 14 off his last, while Jones was even more economical, with just 14 runs coming off his ten.
Robbie Catling provided some resistance, defending stoically before taking advantage of some loose bowling to advance his score to 40. His stand of 39 with Salaar Waqar for the fifth wicket proved to be the highest of the innings, taking the score to 110 after 35 overs. Another leg spinner, New Zealander Danny Gibbs, entered the attack and also picked up two wickets. A wicket to skipper Sonny Cooper and a run out followed as Dulwich were dismissed for a disappointing 147 in the 45th over. Stolle with 23, Waqar 20, and Jon Lodwick who finished on 20 not out were the only other batsmen to get out of the teens.
Josh Price and Dan Woods launched the reply circumspectly against tight bowling by Lodwick and Kamran Munawar. Lodwick induced edges from both of them and would have had a couple of wickets had the chances been taken. But the batsmen were able to accelerate against the change bowlers, and the Dulwich spinners were unable to impose the same restraint as their opponents. The openers had added 77 in 21.4 overs when Price edged Waqar to slip for 40. But that was the only wicket as Woods and Joe Riches added a further 71 to take their side to victory with 14 overs to spare, Woods finishing with 67 and Riches 30.
Dulwich thus failed to take a point from this defeat, and slip to 7th. This weekend they visit Oxted & Limpsfield, who have lost both their matches and stand one place and three points below them in the table.