Dundee cricketers entertain English visitors at the Oval
"It's proof that sport can promote tourism in our area"
A combined Dundee Cricket XI beat a visiting English team in a fun 30 over game, played in cloudy England-type weather at the Oval on Saturday.
The visitors, representing the Army Air Corps Regiment (ACC), are on a cricketing tour of the country and while in Dundee, used the opportunity to tour the battlefields from their base at the Rorke’s Drift Hotel.
ACC’s result on the cricket pitch was similar to the one the Redcoats fell to at Isandlwana.
Batsman, Henry Bedford of the ACC team said the pitch was quite a challenge and the opposition ‘very determined’.
Batting first, the ACC XI made 121/6 with tight bowling restricting the visitors.
The Dundee team, hastily put together, made a wobbly start with Adeel and Henry going out for two and four respectively.
Pierre Booysens and Joff Davies steadied the ship however, with Joff in imperious form – clubbing 12 fours and two sixes – in his undefeated score of 80. His knock gave the visitors a comfortable six wicket victory.
ACC captain, Charlie Scott was full of praise for Joff and the hospitality shown by the Dundee cricketers, who provided both supper and fellowship.
Colonel Iain Kiy said the Dundee trip had been very special and easily rivalled the ACC’s previous trips to Sri Lanka and Barbados.
The team is to play another two games during its tour and was glad to watch the English cricket team play against the Proteas last Tuesday.
Later, the enthusiastic cricketers from Dundee and the ACC decided to play a ‘quick’ T20 match to close the evening.
“It’s proof that sport can promote tourism in our area and we would have loved to have seen more locals out here to support the event,” commented Johann Coetzee, who assisted with the logistics of the game.
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