Shipwrecks Cruise Home

Shipwrecks cruised to victory against a Dumfries Juniors outfit strengthened by club pro Loz and an influx of returning public schoolboys.

It was another balmy evening on the Costa del Kingholm, on which the football pitch had been cut shorter than the rest of the ground, obviously reflecting the sporting priorities of our times. Alasdair McEwan lost the toss and led his troops into the field.

Derek "Shabba" Rankine opened with three tight overs, but no wickets fell until Alex Taylor took a fine catch, performing a superb backward hornpipe at long on to dismiss Thornely (Sr.) off McEwan in the fourth over. The innings was nearly half way through before Fallas took a towering catch off Cameron just in front of the boundary to remove Birkbeck.

MoM Davey Fallas

Only three more wickets were to fall but, crucially, none of the juniors made many runs while Lyburn and Loz steamed ahead to record their maximums in the away side's 91 - 5.

Jim Worthington and Geoff Dean opened in pokey fashion until the former was well taken low by Loz at mid on, at which point Dean unleashed a series of stylish off drives to starboard.  Joined by Davey Fallas after Alex Taylor slipped up, the duo found the boundary with great regularity until Dean prodded back to Loz, called for an impossible run and duly walked the plank.

Once Fallas retired after the usual couple of sixes, Rankine was in similar mood and the remaining batsmen were really only needed in a supporting role.  Mike Service and Colin Taylor nevertheless managed to get out before Rankine won the game with his third four in the eighteenth over.

The Ship Inn Man of the Match Award went to Davey Fallas for his match-winning 28 and excellent catch.

Scores: Dumfries Juniors 91 - 5 (Lyburn 30 n.o., Loz 29 n.o ; Cameron 2-31) : Shipwrecks 92 - 5 (Fallas 28 n.o., Dean 24, Rankine 15 n.o. ; Currie 2-21)