15/06/2026
*** Match Report - DSK 2 v Dundrum Cricket Club 2***
In the sunlit shadows of the majestic Mournes, the 2nd XI took to the field first in this always hotly contested derby fixture. Eoin Gelston took the new ball and was immediately generating late swing, which the Dundrum batters were content to defend. At the other end, Gondal also produced some nice deliveries to beat the bat. The Dundrum openers' policy of 'drop-and-run' was moving the score along nicely, however, so skipper Vijayakumar introduced the beguiling legspin of Senthil in the 8th over, and he managed to find the edge of Butler's blade with his 5th delivery, which to the surprise of most, not least the creaking wicketkeeper himself, Fenton safely pouched to send Butler back for 7. Lowey joined Tormey at the crease, but he scored only 1 before being bowled by Sam Malik, whose now legendary slower ball accounted for Jackson for a duck in the same over, leaving Dundrum 32-3 after 11 overs. Joscelyn Wright was next in, and she and Tormey added 71 for the 4th wicket, with Wright playing some textbook off-drives and Tormey beginning to open his shoulders. During this partnership, Kannan offered senior bowling debuts to Anchit Bhagat and young Riley Tubman, both of whom acquitted themselves very well, particularly Tubman, who was moving the ball nicely in the air. It was Gelston who took the next wicket, however, returning to dismiss Tormey for a patient 44 at the time when he was threatening to score heavily. Senthil then got Wright for a well-constructed 16 with the score on 110-5 in the 20th. Endeavouring not to be outdone by his daughter, Ian Wright used the crease cleverly to deliver some l***y blows, and whilst there were two further wickets for Sam in the 21st, McGuigan joined Wright to add a frustrating unbeaten 35 for the 8th wicket, leaving Dundrum on 146-7 after their 25 overs. Sam Malik was undoubtedly the pick of the DSK bowlers with a superb analysis of 4-16, although Gelston was unlucky to finish with just 1 scalp after a fine spell.
A very pleasant tea was enjoyed before play restarted with Fenton and Shivraj sent in. The first over yielded 14 runs, and this both soothed the nerves and demonstrated that Shivraj was in the mood for swinging from the hip. This indeed proved to be the case as he attempted to carve almost any kind of delivery inside out over extra cover, regardless of its line or length. Benefitting also from a number of wides and sensible strike rotation from Fenton, this policy bore fruit as Shivraj smote three fours and two maximums in a highly entertaining, if not exactly chanceless, innings of 41. He agonisingly fell with the score on 99, so a century stand was just denied, but this only brought Senthil to the crease, and despite a few near misses off the impressive bowling of McGuigan, he had taken his score to 24 by the time he struck the winning runs in the 23rd over. Fenton finished unbeaten on 34*, playing the anchor role in an innings of precisely 0 boundaries that is unlikely to feature in any highlights reels.
Many thanks to Dundrum for an enjoyable game, and best of luck for the rest of the season. Thanks also to James Cunningham who stepped in during an umpiring crisis, and who showed great compassion with his lenient interpretation of the wide rule.
