Alex Massie

Selkirk's run in the National Murgatroys 20/20 Cup came to an abrupt end on Sunday when Dumfries proved simply too strong for the Souters.

Nevertheless, reaching the final of the Southern Section of the competition represents a considerable improvement upon performances in past seasons.

Batting first in tricky conditions Dumfries made an impressive 126/5. Conditions were such that sage judges considered this a challenging total and that 100 might have been considered par for the day.

Selkirk might have restricted their National League visitors to less than that had Kenny Paterson's men held their catches. Four relatively straightforward chances and a brace of half-chances were grassed. Individually these errors were not calamitous; collectively they were.

Jordan Reid was an exception to this dispiriting rule, taking two catches, the second a peach.

Greg Fenton was arguably the pick of the Selkirk bowlers, though he had little luck.

Selkirk had been given warning of the potency of the Dumfries attack in the semi-final earlier in the afternoon during which Gala were routed for just 62.

John Everitt and Greg Fenton got the home side off to a flying start and after 3.5 overs the pair had added 26 thanks to some fine drives and keen running between the wickets. Fenton, however, fell to the final delivery of the fourth over and never again would Selkirk be ahead of the required run-rate.

Too much of Selkirk's subsequent batting was either desperately casual or fatally reckless. Darren Fenton prodded weakly and was caught behind; Rory Banks made an ill-advised attempt to heave a leg-stump yorker over midwicket and was, deservedly, bowled while Bob Wilkinson ran himself out calling for a single to square-leg.

John Everitt and Kenny Paterson were each victimised by splendid deliveries as the Dumfries bowlers took advantage of the helpful conditions. They attempted little in the way of fancy variation, trusting that putting the ball into awkward spots would bring its own reward. And so it did.

Thereafter the tail was left to wag enthusiastically - thanks to Buckley - but not especially productively as the home side subsided to a score of 56 all out and a defeat that was much more comprehensive than it needed to be or might have been had more catches been held or had the batting shown greater discipline.

Dumfries

A. Dawson, c Reid b G. Fenton 7

D. Davidson, lbw Reid 33

A. Batty, c Reid b D. Fenton 14

S. Corbett-Byers, c Banks b Wilkinson 3

C. Potts, b Reid 31

J. Greary, ct Everitt b Paterson 17

D. Brotherstone, not out 3

D. Goodin, not out 2

Extras 20

Total for 6 130

Selkirk

J. Everitt, b McBride 14

G. Fenton, c Corbett-Byres b McBride 12

D. Fenton, ct Corbett-Byres b McCutcheon 0

R. Banks, b McCutcheon 1

K. Paterson, b McCutcheon 3

J. Reid, c Davidson b Geary 3

R. Wilkinson, run out 1

L. Oliver, c McBride b Geary 3

I. Buckley, not out 9

I.