Shipwrecks Founder In The Darkness

Shipwrecks were left wondering who killed the albatross after the Healthpros escaped with their lives in the recent encounter at Kingholm 2. For, after a creditable performance on being asked to field and restricting the Medics to 85, they were cursed with the luck of Jonah and fell short of the target by 12.

Healthpros made heavy weather of the early part of their innings, restricted by tight bowling from Alasdair McEwan and Derek Rankine who bowled Sue Strachan for 1. After experimenting with a couple of wides, Colin Taylor got one to nip away from David Hill, who fell victim to a sharp catch by Ship's Doctor Mike Lumb standing up behind the stumps. The old sea dog continued to make use of the leg cutter to bowl Thin and had Doig nicely taken on the run by Rankine off his last salvo. Meanwhile Peel was run out following some neat work by McCuaig and Lumb.

Unfortunately the tide of success slackened as two takeable chances were spilled and, crucially in an encounter that was to produce only four boundaries, Shipwrecks left too much space on deck and several unnecessary singles were pillaged by the Strachans (Sr and Jr) as the Healthpros probed their way to 85 for 7.

A few lusty sixes should have settled the affair, but a chill breeze sprung up from the Dogger Bank as the sky grew blacker than a pirate's eyepatch, producing enough bad light to stop three test matches.

Jim Worthington edged behind second ball and Mike Service was tied down by accurate bowling from Raj as the run rate stalled, eventually being bowled as he tried to break the shackles.  Geoff Dean literally lost his middle stump (it broke) first ball to one that kept low and after McCuaig was run out under pressure, Taylor fell to another deck scourer from Rayen.

Donald McCuaig On Strike Before The Blackness Descended

Some sort of partnership developed between Rankine and Jason Hall, who did well to see the ball, let alone hit it.  But when Hall was bowled by Mutthiah, the writing was on the wall.  The key sloggers fell as McEwan unluckily played on and Cameron edged straight to slip and Shipwrecks' luck was clearly at rock bottom when Mike Lumb hit a firm shot only to be magnifcently taken by a diving Mutthiah for 0.

By this time it was statistically impossible for Rankine to get the necessary runs because of the retiral rule barring a brainstorm from Worthington in his second coming for the absent McBryde.

The New Scorebook

The two did what they could in the last three overs but it was never going to be enough.

Hopefully the acquisition of a new logbook by Purser Dean will bring better luck, but on this showing, we'd do better to chuck it overboard on the next voyage.

In spite of Rankine's excellent 24 not out and two wickets, the Man of the Match went to Colin Taylor for his vintage bowling spell.

Scores: HealthPros 85 for 7 (F Strachan 25 ret, D Strachan 19 ; C Taylor 3-11, D Rankine 2-11) : Shipwrecks 73 for 9 (Rankine 24 n.o., Hall 16 ; R Shyam 3 for 8)