Middleham Batting Collapse Leads to Fourth Consecutive Defeat

Middleham took to field today with H. Davison acting as a replacement captain for Hugh Boorman.

The game at Maiden Castle against St Cuthbert’s was played under a cloudless sky and scorching heat. (Many thanks to the opposition form providing bottled water for both teams.)

The game was played as 24 overs per side with each bowler being allowed to bowl 4 overs and no retirements (not a problem for Middleham apart from a tremendous knock by Hutton)

Davison’s first task was to lose the toss, which he promptly did, and St Cuthbert’s decided to bowl first.

The St Cuthbert innings was highlighted by R.Wardle scoring 29 not out and some steady batting from the other players. However the bowlers kept the score down to a reasonable amount, with a final score of 98 from the 24 overs. Highlight of the bowling was new draftee Ian Green who took 3 wickets for 7 and D.Minns taking 1 for seven off his allocated overs.

The fielders were also kept entertained by the fielding of Dave Shaw who apart from making two misfields also provided a piece of “Paul Daniels type magic” with the ball. Running in to pick the ball up for a possible run out, he completely flummoxed the wicketkeeper and fielders around him by picking the ball up and throwing it. But it had completely disappeared. Once the furore of the possible run out had subsided the ball was found five yards behind the in rushing Shaw.

Chasing 99 to win the game Davison decided to let the two “posties” open with the ever reliable (on past performances and bowling averages) Minns and Shaw ready to step in if early wickets were taken. True to form Middleham had a disastrous start with the St Cuthbert opening bowler taking two wickets in two balls and Wetheridge and Connelley going for one each. Wetheridge being caught by Playle acting as a fielder for the opposition. Green who had a tremendous performance with the ball was not so lucky with the bat being bowled for a duck. Minns and Shaw tried to see off the new ball but having done so were both caught by tremendous catches. (Minns who scored three has seen his average plummet form 48 to 38) At this point Middleham only had 24 of 14 overs and were looking down and out. However up stepped two unlikely heros in the shape of Hutton and Ryder (another draftee) who decided not to lash out (aka David ‘slasher , do you remember that hat trick I took’ Shaw) but to consolidate and try to make up the runs. They played an assortment of shots with six an over coming from much running between the wickets and the occasional boundary. Ryder made a solid 14 and Hutton reached his highest ever score of 29 before being bowled going for the big slog over midwicket. Hutton was also supported by Davison who made 14 not out and a cameo role by Smith at the end of the innings gave him 8 not out.

Overall the result was very disappointing but still an enjoyable occasion. Middleham finished with a total of 85 just 14 short of victory, but the damage was done at the beginning of the innings.

A final comment is that I would like to thank the team for all the support!!!!!!!!!! I was given during the game and all the sarcastic comments I received after it, however the captaincy belongs to Hugh Boorman and the sooner he returns to that role the better.

St Cuthberts

R.Wardle	Bowled	Green	29
T. Smith	Bowled	Minns	0
M.Banks	Ct Playle	Green	14
K.Munroe	Bowled	Green	7
R.Gordon	Not out		12
P.Blackburn	Bowled	Smith	4
S.Halliday	Not out		12
		extras	20
		Total	98

Although Connelly bowled a few wides and I can remember one ball going for four byes (of my bowling)

And I have not sufficient detail to allocate fines for this excessive number of extras.

Bowling

Wetheridge 4-0-23-0, Minns 4-1-7-1, Connelley 7-0-17-0, Smith 4-0-11-1,

Davison 4-0-13-0, Green 4-0-7-3

Middleham

Wetheridge	Ct Playle	Munroe	1
Conneley	Bowled	Munroe	1
Green	Bowled	Munroe	0
Shaw	Ct		12
Minns	Caught		3
Ryder	Caught		14
Playle	Bowled		1
Hutton	Bowled	Smith	29
Davison	Not out		14
Smith	Not out		8
		Extras	2
		Total	85