A New Nautical Record?

The Shipwrecks' campaign got underway in damp conditions at the Kingholm on Thursday against The Burgh Boys.  Although squad members from the 'Wrecks and from Panthers, not wanting to suffer any loss of life in their first battles, had thoroughly swabbed the artificial, it was still distinctly slimey and the outfield could not have absorbed any more water without sinking.

Perhaps it should have been foreseen that so much water would favour the seafarers, but what resulted was of Leicester City proportions as the Burgh Boys foundered in the murk.

New skipper Donald McCuaig followed a long-established naval tradition by losing the toss and was invited to field.  The first couple of overs passed off without event until the ball became spongey and Davey Fallas cast a curse on the opposition with a series of shooting spinners that did not turn - a bit like that West Indian guy who looks like something out of "Pirates of the Caribbean".  Having bowled Edgar and had Webb caught, Davey produced a crucial ball from his locker to fell Aiden Collingwood lbw first ball and bowled Carmichael before leaving the battle scene grinning like a sea scout with a "job done" sticker.

McEwan picked up a couple of wickets as Mike Lumb took a nice legside catch off G. Cother's feather and Colin Taylor bowled two successive wides before managing to make the sponge move miraculously in the air to bowl Ben Flack.  Next ball McEwan caught cleanly to end G. Cother's second attempt and the innings finally fell apart in spite of some last minute resistance by young R. Cother who played a couple of nice shots before Chris Lumb bowled him for 2.

Burgh Boys were all out for 18, probably the lowest total made by any side against Shipwrecks in maritime history... unless of course someone knows better.

In spite of overwhelming complacency, Shipwrecks opening pair of Geoff Dean and Mike Service had no trouble in navigating their way to victory in a game during which no single boundary was scored.

In spite of having gone AWOL, the Man of the Match Award went to leading seaman Davey "Jones" Fallas for his astounding bowling figures of 4 - 4 off four overs, a feat that was duly celebrated in The Riverside where Danny McBryde succeeded in emptying the fruit machine.

Cricket in the Wet - Geoff Dean ponders Ben Flack's "slower ball"