Shipwrecks On Course

Shipwrecks latest fixture against the Healthpros was played in Caribbean conditions at Kingholm II on Thursday, when they navigated a precise course to victory to overcome a late fightback by the visitors.

Alasdair McEwan was surprised to be asked to bat first by an understrength opposition in thirsty conditions. After a solid start from Jim Worthington and Donald McCuaig, Alex Taylor went full steam ahead aiming

Donald McCuaig gets one away behind square off Doig early in the innings

some lusty blows before being joined by Davey Fallas for his habitual typhoon maximum, including three sixes despatched seaward.  Initially out of touch, Geoff Dean knuckled down in similar vein with an impressive six off Kirsty Strachan, leaving time once Taylor retired to run Sarosh out as well as himself for 24 before the 'Wrecks innings disembarked on 114 - 6.

Meanwhile Mike Service - fatally undecided between attack and defence - and Colin Taylor - sliced a wide onto his own stumps - had been left behind to mutter a few choice naval curses on the boundary and Danny McBryde recorded a proud 1 not out.

Still in bright sunshine, Healthpros' Learie and Morisetty made a breezy start against Taylor (Sr.) and McEwan, testing out the sea legs of the older sailors with some sharp singles from the off.  But a neat spell of spin from Fallas halted the doctors' progress and, once McEwan bowled Learie, the introduction of the very tall Sarosh again caused bamboozlement as he lobbed a series of grenades down onto the pitch from about mast high to dismiss both McKinnel and Williams.

Shipwrecks' fielding also tightened up and Donald McCuaig took two outstanding catches at point - all the more impressive as, although shunning the traditional black patch, he is still recovering from a recent eye operation.  Then McEwan hit the stumps with a brilliant throw from about 30 yards to finally run out Morisetty.

MoM Alex Taylor -
Nice T shirt!

Considerably ahead on run rate but short of a fifth bowler, McEwan reluctantly called on legspinner Dean, who bowled a series of wides down the channel of total incredulity before yorking David Strachan with a much faster surprise delivery. Kirsty Strachan was run out soon after but Mutthiah and the returning Learie hit out across the line against the returning opening bowlers, and only six was needed when McEwan produced a dot ball off the last delivery.

So it all went to plan - sort of. The Berghain Man of the Match Award went to Alex Taylor for his important innings, finishing with a straight six.

Scores:  Shipwrecks 114 - 6 (A. Taylor 28 n.o., Fallas 26 n.o., Dean 24, McBryde 1 n.o.) : Healthpros 108 - 7 (Learie 13 & 12 n.o., D. Strachan 20, Morisetty 18 ; Sarosh 2-10)