Shipwrecks Steam Ahead

Shipwrecks outpaced a strong Healthpros crew in a highscoring game at Kingholm 2 on Thursday night, in defiance of continuing poor visibility and a damp outfield.

Short of Davey Fallas (missed boat at Stranraer) and Donald McCuaig (on boat to Isle of Man), Shipwrecks cleverly argued for the fixture to be relocated from bouncy Kingholm 1, only to find that the K2 boundary line is by now almost completely invisible. This led to a later debate as to the whereabouts of the team's boundary and semaphore flags, which are by various accounts a) lost forever in Davy Jones' locker b) safely dry docked in St Michael's shed or c) in someone's garage (to be continued).

Good fortune was with us as Shipwrecks won the toss and elected to bat.

Jim Worthington was first to go, edging Dave Strachan to gully in the third over, after which Mike Service ignored the 'steady as you go' call from Dean at the other end and slashed round a straight one.  But Chris Lumb, who had been allowed an extra tot to celebrate the end of his exams, then launched into the attack with great gusto, particularly favouring Fraser Strachan's short stuff.  By the time he retired for 27, the score had passed fifty in only seven overs.

Sid Oates swings again

The ball continued to sail off the bat when Alex Taylor took over the shift, but the the longest hit of the night came from Dean, who hit a one bounce six off the towpath into the river before he holed out for 24. Skipper Alastair McEwen was out first ball, but the later batsmen managed to continue progress, albeit at a reduced rate of knots even when Taylor was bowled for 23.  Sid Oates in particular produced a fine little cameo near the end as Shipwrecks reached 120 - 7.

What followed from Shipwrecks was a mixture of sublime and ridiculous.  Chis Lumb struggled to find the right line, but in between bowled Dave Hill and Ian McLelland.  Between more wides, Jim Worthington and Alex Taylor both took fine catches to help McEwen towards a four wicket haul.  But once an erratic Colin Taylor got the key wicket of Faisal to an excellent catch by Mike Lumb standing up, Shipwrecks appeared to slacken sail, as if expecting to coast home to an easy victory.

MoM Chris Lumb

Several takeable chances were dropped, particularly off Dave Strachan and it was only when the doctors looked like they might have some chance of staging a victory operation, helped by the change to a pink ball, that the tide turned. Fielding to his own bowling in the dying overs, Chris Lumb threw down the wicket from a sitting position and Sid Oates took an impressive and much-celebrated catch, diving forward full length to deprive Matt Williams of his maximum.

Mention should be made in despatches of Mike Lumb's excellent wicketkeeping, throwing himself around the quarterdeck to intercept the volley of wides, but the Scottish Qualifications Authority Man of the Match Award went to son Chris for his tonesetting innings, two wickets and excellent run out.

Scores: Shipwrecks 120 - 7 (C. Lumb 27 n.o., Dean 24, A. Taylor 23, Oates 11 ; Faisal 2-14, D. Strachan 2-20) : Healthpros 101 all out (D. Strachan 25 n.o., Williams 23 ; McEwen 4-22 C. Lumb 2-21)

Attention All Seafarers!

To improve team morale and diet, The Ship Inn will be laying on sandwiches and hard tack after all forthcoming fixtures at the Kingholm. N.b. Buy your own Porky Scratchings!