Shipwrecks Stumble on Hidden Treasure

On Thursday Shipwrecks were eventually adjudged winners (see previous post) after crossing the line equal with Nunholm Colts on a mudflat of a pitch which contrasted strongly with the fast-running surface usually found up the river.

This actually made for quite an interesting tie as strokes that would normally have sailed away for four were left struggling in the foam at the edge of the boundary.  But apart from increasingly Able Seaman Chris Lumb, it was a night when Shipwrecks were often their own worst enemies.

Having won the toss but with players still to arrive, Skipper Donald McCuaig decided to bat and donned the pads to open the innings with Mike Service.  What happened was not reminiscent of a graceful ocean liner pulling away in the breeze, more like a tug trying to free itself from a sandbank as neither player managed to score well against accurate bowling from Lewis and especially Sam Thornely. McCuaig edged behind for 4 in the fifth over and Service struggled on to 14 accompanied by some skylarking from Danny McBryde before he was bowled by Lewis' last delivery.

Man of Match - Chris Lumb

Chris Lumb immediately went on the attack and advanced his team's cause considerably with a quick 25 and once McBryde had hit one in the air off Malik, there was the chance to restore order on board through Jason Hall and Alasdair McEwan.

At this point the sea-gods did not favour the Shipwrecks as Hall was luckily caught when a parried shot fell nicely to be recaptured by square leg, and then McEwan played a full toss firmly to leg but not hard enough to defeat sweeper Thornely.

After Lumb retired rookies Danny Davison and Alvin Dunn were unsure when to run and spurned several opportunities, which incidentally was the case for much of the Shipwrecks innings.  Oldsters Taylor and Mike Lumb were left with the task of trying to scrape a few runs in the last three overs and the ship's surgeon was on emergency standby when they ran a five from a double overthrow off Lyburn.  Bad luck once again played its part when Lumb then was run out by a throw that ricochetted onto the stumps off the bowler's legs.

Shipwrecks had struggled to 99 - 9.

McEwan and Chris Lumb opened the bowling with some tight overs and Lumb found a beauty to splice the mainbrace of the threatening Black in an excellent 1-4. Lyburn plodded to a maximum and Malik produced some fine shots but Dunn and Hall kept the tiller under control until the 17th over as Thornely struggled to make effective contact in worsening conditions.

Unfortunately a stiff Taylor and a rusty Davison, entrusted with the last four overs with nearly thirty needed produced a series of wides that let the Colts back into the game. Although Davison bowled Thornely the last ball went down with the totals even and it took a run out to stop the home team reaching the target.  At which point the technicalities started and it eventually emerged that an ineligible player was at the crease for Nunholm - but not before an extensive post mortem had been held in The Riverside Bar by Shipwrecks High Command who at that point thought they had lost.

Undisputed Man of the Match was Chris Lumb for his all round contribution.

Scores: Shipwrecks 99 – 9 (C. Lumb 25 ret., Service 14 ; Hussein 2-8, Lyburn 2-15, Lewis 2-20) : Dumfries Colts 99 – 7 (Malik 26 ret., Lyburn 25 ret., Thornely 13)
Dumfries Colts forfeited game for fielding an ineligible player.