Last League Outing

Shipwrecks won their last Midweek League fixture of the season against J. Walker & Son (St Michael's Youth) at Kingholm 1 on Thursday, though the margin of victory was much tighter than in the previous encounter. Under sunny skies, Skipper Alasdair McEwan took the opportunity to bat first over the excellent outfield, where the ball now runs like water instead of into it.

Lamb to Dean

Geoff Dean once again missed out on the spoils, unwisely picking out Saints pro Thapar at point with an airy offside slash, and McCuaig soon followed him to the pavilion, bowled by Lamb for a duck. But Mike Service was in excellent form and played some some class shots to previously unexploited areas of the compass while Davey Fallas slogged away merrily. The result was that the scoreboard chugged round at a rate of knots that was maintained with the arrival of Derek Rankine after Service was bowled for 21 and over 90 runs were chalked up by the halfway point. 

Progress understandably slowed somewhat when "Old Man Of The Sea" Colin Taylor replaced the retiring Fallas.  Rankine was bowled by Thapar immediately after hitting him onto the rigging of the practice nets, but tailenders Pater Connor and Jim Worthington provided useful support and, following two overthrows off the last delivery, prodded by Taylor to short mid off for a chancy single, the innings closed on reassuring 130 for 6.

The youngsters were not about to collapse however and opener Dylan Muir took on the Shipwrecks' bowling attack with a series of aggressive shots upstream while little Adam Malik performed a credible Boycott imitation at the other end as he stood firm on the burning deck.

Once Muir had retired, Andy Cameron produced a couple of key wickets when he bowled opposing skipper Geddes and shortly after had the padless Greaves taken by Taylor, tottering to his right at

Derek Rankine In Full Battle Dress

point. This reduced the J. Walker scoring potential considerably. Even though slapper Ricky Thapar sent several deliveries toward the horizon for a lightning retiral, 30 runs were still needed with two overs to go and although Ross Lamb made a go of it against the returning Rnkine, they were still 15 short by the end of hostilities.

It was notable however that the margin of victory would have been much smaller but for the number of Extras scored.  In spite of this, the Shipwrecks' Man of the Match Award was won by Derek "Shabba Rankine" for his solid 23 and vital bowling at the death.

Meanwhile all shore leave has been cancelled next week, when the Shipwrecks meet the Healthpros yet again, this time in the Fosters Plate semi-final.

Scores: Shipwrecks 130 for 6 (Fallas 27 retd, Rankine 23, Service 21,Taylor 21 n.o. ; Greaves 2-35) : J.Walker & Sons 115 for 7 (Thapar 28 retd., Muir 27 retd., Lamb 12 n.o., Malik 11 retd, Geddes 10 ; Cameron 2-24)