Friday 31 May 2013

Kingholm 2 To Be Replaced By Dartboard?

The frustrating news that yet another fixture has fallen foul of the weather, as Kingholm 2 performed a passable imitation of the Nile flood plain earlier this week, set me thinking.

As it is apparent that the majority of sea battles this year will be abandoned without a cannonball being fired, I am considering a letter to the Midweek League Committee (also known as Everett) about the possibility of insisting that the teams involved resolve their differences by playing darts cricket instead.

The concept would be that all teams drawn at Kingholm 2 would instead nominate three players to meet each other on the night of the fixture.  Wikipedia mentions several sets of rules for Darts Cricket, most of which would be beyond the comprehension of most midweek players after a couple of drinks, so I propose to suggest the following format:
The New Kingholm 2?

  • Toss is replaced by 'middle for diddle'.
  • Players throw in nominated order, teams taking turn and turn about.
  • Bowling team goes first
  • Bullseye scores two wickets, outer bull one wicket. But darts outside the treble ring are scored to the batting team.
  • Batting team scores runs for every three darts thrown less 40 until all out.  Rounds less than 40 score nothing, but bulls are scored as wickets.
  • Points are allocated to participating teams as per usual rules (no rain-offs allowed).
Obviously this format has the key advantage that dartboards are always drier than Kingholm 2, so all Midweek League fixtures would be played and no-one would need to get wet unless they spill their beer. Also teams are unlikely not to have enough players.

One obvious problem is that, as there is currently no dartboard at The Ship Inn, we are struggling for a local venue that has both a dartboard and real ale. 

Unless of course, you know better...

Friday 24 May 2013

Shipwrecks Bogged Down

After cunningly evading the previous week's encounter with Dalton Pros because of the waterlogged outfield at Kingholm 2, the Shipwrecks were finally called out again to face the Kingholm XI this Wednesday.

The match was played in excellent conditions for sailing, with a strong, chill north-westerly breeze blowing and bright sunshine reflected in the lakes and puddles on the boundary, between which the upturned sightscreens of ghost ship St Michael's CC looked a bit like capsized yachts.

On losing toss and being required to bat, Skipper Ally MacEwan delegated command to first mate Geoff Dean, who dispatched Sandy McNay and Mike Service out to face the opening Woodhouses.

A low scoring game was always likely as the openers struggled to stroke the ball through the mixture of ankle high grass and marsh plants and those that came were largely from using the pace of the ball.  Service was eventually bowled by Woodhouse (Sr.) in the fourth over, upon which a diastrous middle order collapse ensued.

Sid Oates was bowled by Woodhouse (Jr.) and Sid Barbour by Woodhouse (Sr.) in quick succession, and Peter Harrison's first shot went straight to cover.  There then followed two sharp run outs by the fielding side to jetison Rory Dean and McNay. Dean, curiously electing to bat down the order, edged to slip and it was left to Ship's Clerk Colin Taylor to survey the wreckage.

The missing scorebook
Having earlier forgotten the club scorebook (which may account for some inaccuracies* in the log), Taylor at least made amends by batting out the remaining overs, while Kelvin Maxwell helped avoid an embarrassing total with some late order hitting, which included the only boundary of the innings - a lusty six which splashed into the developing canal next to the river bank. Once he was out, Donald McCuaig and Taylor managed a few more singles to leave the Shipwrecks stranded on 47 - 9.

The outcome was in little doubt after the first four overs, during which Hutchinson amassed a quick 22. But after he was bowled by Harrison, most of the succeeding Kingholm batsmen struggled.  Harrison got the ball to swing in nicely with the wind to claim 3-15. After taking a catch off Dean (Jr.) MacEwan entered the attack to claim two wickets in two balls, Harrison again taking a good catch.  Momentarily, Kingholm lost momentum, but victory was already in sight and there was no fairy tale ending.

*Approximate Scores: Shipwreecks 47 - 9 (Taylor 13 not out, Maxwell 12, McNay about 10) : Kingholm XI 48 - 6 or 8 (Harrison 3 -15, MacEwan 2 - 4)

Wednesday 8 May 2013

Shipwrecks Win Early Skirmish

Shipwrecks notched up their first victory of the new Midweek League campaign when they overcame the Burgh Boys on Tuesday. It was a pleasant during a temporary outburst of fine weather - so much so that it was no longer necessary to use a boat to reach Kingholm 2, which had virtually dried out apart from a few remaining mudflats.  The boundary was however curtailed by an abandoned earthworks in memory of St Michael's former ground at the allotment end.

Following a revolutionary putsch a la "Battleship Potemkin", no-one knows who the team captain is so Ally McEwen was dispatched by the Revolutionary Council to make the toss.  Whatever the result, Burgh Boys' fleet of Collingwoods and Flacks ended up batting first. Peter Harrison opened up with a couple of shipshape, nifty overs and claimed an early wicket as did Alastair McEwen when Henderson edged to give Kelvin Maxwell his first ever catch behind the sticks. 

Mystery bowler Sarosh, floating the ball down from half-mast height, tricked Ben Flack into a false shot which Taylor picked out of the air at gulley to put Burgh Boys in some trouble. Victor Collingwood and Carmichael steadied the ship for a time until Maxwell hung on to another fine edge off Sarosh to the amazement of the fielding team.

Aiden Collingwood took a swipe at one of Dean's juicy spinners but Harrison took a fine low catch at wide mid-on and Taylor, switching ends at last found some aerial movement to dismiss V. Collingwood and
McCuaig and Dean -
the winning partnership
Flack in successive balls. McEwen and Harrison returned to finish the innings off on 58.

Tight bowling by Ben Flack and Aiden Collingwood meant Worthington and Oates were under the weather for a while but both batted sensibly and picked up runs steadily.  Worthington was relieved by McCuaig after being bowled by Collingwood, and the new batsman put together a steady shift to hold the innings together with 13 not out.  After being hit in the chest by a riser from Flack, Oates connected with a couple of characteristic shots and Harrison followed him with some classy efforts before trying to launch V. Collingwood into the heavens and missing.

It was then left to Geoff Dean to finish an enjoyable encounter by hoisting a lofty blow up the embankment in the fourteenth over, after which he quickly removed the stumps in celebration (see above).

Scores: Burgh Boys 58 all out (V. Collingwood 19, Carmichael 11 ; McEwen 3-9, Harrison 2-6, Sarosh 2-8, Taylor 2-23) : Shipwrecks 62 -3 (McCuaig 13 not out, Oates 13, Harrison 11, Dean 10 not out)

Friday 3 May 2013

Shipwrecks Come Unstuck

Geoff Dean facing in the first over
Shipwrecks went down after a bright start versus Nunholm Colts last Wednesday evening in what may or may not have been the first League game of the season, as there have been signs that the Colts, who frequently crossbreed with Annandale Insurance, are just playing friendlies this year.

Having presumably won the toss, Geoff Dean and Mike Service opened against a depleted home crew and moved the total forward nicely for the first three or four overs, until Mike holed out for 13 .  Unfortunately, things deteriorated after that point.  Sid Oates started well before he was bowled and Dean mistimed a full toss to square leg, having perhaps unwisely given the Colts permission to recruit D. Strachan in mid-voyage.

Taylor was clearly out of form and newcomer Sarosh couldn't get runs but couldn't get out either.  It was left to another new hand, Peter Harrison, who renews the Shipwrecks almost forgotten affiliation with the teaching profession, to steady the ship with a measured innings of 26 not out.  After a couple of decent blows by McEwen and Maxwell but a rather laid back aproach to the last three overs, Shipwrecks were eventually becalmed on 84 - 7.

Harrison also provided the best bowling on the restart when he trapped the Nunholm opener lbw in the first over and soon snared Strachan Jr. caught and bowled.  Momentarily the Shipwrecks flag flew high but it was not to last as Brotherston, Walker and D. Strachan (see earlier) picked off the runs with some ease.

The only other high spot for the 'Wrecks - apart from turning up with almost a full team - was a creditable performance by Kelvin Maxwell behind the stumps.

Scores: Shipwrecks 84 -7 (Harrison 26 not out, Service 13, Dean 11) : Nunholm Colts 85 - 3 (Harrison 2-14)