Buoyant Shipwrecks Afloat Again

Shipwrecks pushed the boat out on Thursday night after a convincing 58 run victory against a youthful Dumfries Colts at Nunholm to achieve their first victory in the new Dumfries Midweek League (Division 2).

This year's crew has been fortified by the welcome return of Quartermaster Mike Lumb and the recruitment of salty old sea dog Davey Fallas plus talented Officer Cadet Chris Lumb.

Batting first on the artificial deck, Shipwrecks' innings did not set sail in the best fashion.  After completing a ten mile training run immediately before sailing, Sid Oates was unable to manage 20 yards when called for a sharp single by Mike Lumb and departed without facing in the first over. Sensible batting from Lumb against McCutcheon and Sam Thornton and controlled aggression from Dean got the innings underway, until Lumb misunderstood a clear call of wait and was himself run out for 14.

After a promising start, Chris Lumb played over a rare straight one for 11, but Davey Fallas got off to his usual swashbuckling fashion, flicking one of his pads to square leg for 4. It was full steam ahead until Dean reached his retirement.  Taylor and Fallas kept the momentum up until Fallas also retired on 27, narrowly missing a straight maximum with his last strike.

Chris Lumb plays a nice shot through the covers

The innings finished with an impressive cameo from Skipper Ali McEwan (7 not out), who needed no time to adjust to the pace of the returning McCutcheon and Shipwrecks closed on 134 - 3.

In reply the Colts found the pace and accuracy of Chris Lumb hard to deal with, as did Lumb Sr. who was scuppered by one canonball amidships behind the stumps. Meanwhile McEwan bowled Wishart and had Dunbar caught by Taylor at mid-off. But the key blow was then delivered by Sarosh, who distracted McCutcheon with a couple of deliberate wides before serving him up a straight one which he obligingly lobbed to Jim Worthington, who took a good catch in the deep to cast the Colts innings adrift after six overs.

After Sarosh also bowled Ben Thornton, there was a skirmish  resistance from Walker and Sam Thornton until Fallas struck three times in his last over in failing light to finish a good-spirited game with the Colts on 76 - 7.

In spite of Fallas' impressive statistics with bat and ball the Captain Morgan's Sailor of the Match Award went to Sarosh (see left) for vitally dismissing the home team's key player.

Scores: Shipwrecks 134 - 3 (Fallas 27 ret., Dean 25 ret., Taylor 15 n.o., M. Lumb 14, C.Lumb 11) : Dumfries Colts 76 - 7 (S. Thornton 23 n.o., Walker 18 ; Fallas 3 - 18, McEwan 2-12, Sarosh 2-20).