Lacklustre performance from Middleham produces first

defeat of the season

A performance from the Middleham team which showed a distinct lack of commitment ended with a seven wicket defeat at the rugby club ground, Bishop Auckland. The overall performance seemed to show a lack of team spirit with both failures in the batting and fielding aspects of the game.

Middleham were put into bat and played with 10 men against the 11 of King James. The initial overs in the game saw a good start with the scoreboard turning over a rate of 5-6 an over for the first 9 overs. Once again Ron Woods showed the value of experience playing a sound innings and retiring upon reaching 25. During this time he was supported by H.Boorman, D.Hutton and H.Davison. Davison getting a rush of blood and leaving his crease to a shorter ball. Unfortunately he was unable to connect with the ball and was promptly stumped by some quick action from the wicketkeeper ( this resulted in muttering about using the wrong size bat). Thus with a score of one he joined the ranks of the binary men ( leader David Shaw 0,1). This brought Phil Woods to the crease and much to everyone's surprise he played a mature and sensible innings using his skill to play the ball around the pitch and not demonstrating his usual enthusiasm to try and knock the ball out of the ground. The rest of the innings saw Derek Shaw being run out going for the quick single. This ended with Derek diving for the crease and injuring his wrist. Mike Smith kept up his unusual methods of dismissal when he followed last Sunday's run out with providing the scorer with the opportunity of writing hit wicket in the scorebook ( not ours as Hugh had forgotten it).

The innings ended after the full 20 overs with Middleham making 90, when early in the innings a total of 110-120 looked possible. The reason for this could be put down to some fine bowling from the King James side towards the end of the innings.

The King James innings commenced with the light starting to fade and it has to be said that some of the fielding from the Middleham side was probably the poorest seen in the last few seasons. This effort certainly increased the kitty in relation to the fines incurred.

These included fines for 4 dropped catches, 6 fines for crap fielding, and 1 for a six being scored. Even so the fines do not reflect the lethargy that seemed to possess the fielding side. One of the only saving graces being the enthusiasm shown by Michael Boorman in the field.

A mention has to be made of one particular fielding effort. As readers will be aware the BBC has a programme, which is called ' Can't Cook, Won't Cook'. It is rumoured that the BBC are going to make a Cricket version of this programme and are currently headhunting one Stephen Ball to host the new programme, which is called 'Can't Catch, Wont Catch'. The fielding skills shown have now meant the introduction of a new fine for not attempting a catch. On a more positive side Ball kept up his accurate bowling, finishing with figures 0f 2-0-7-1. For the record catches were also dropped by David Shaw 2, David Hutton 1 (plus 3 fines for crap fielding). Perhaps David Hutton's mind was more on the first division play-offs. Ron Woods 1and Stephen Ball 1 for crap fielding.

It is hoped that Middleham get this game out of their system and come back for the third game more focussed and showing the enthusiasm as seen in the opening game of the season.

Match Statistics

Bishop Middleham

R. Woods	Not out (retired)	25
H. Boorman	b Armstrong	6
D. Hutton	c Rowley b Taylor	9
H. Davison	St	1
P. Woods	Not out	24
Derek Shaw	Run out	1
M. Smith	Hit Wicket b Rowley	4
S. Ball	C Rowley (sr) b Rowley(jr)	4
David Shaw	B Rowley (jnr)	1
	Extras	15
	Total	90

King James

Taylor	B Ball	24
Holliday	Not out	25
Raw	Not out	11
Rowley P	b Davison	8
Pringle	Not out	18
	Extras	6
	Total	92

Bowling figures

Boorman M 2-0-15-0, Smith M 3-0-7-0, Boorman H, 2-0-11-0

Ball S 2-0-4-0, Shaw D 2-0-11-0, Davison H 2-0-9-1, Wood R, 1-0-6-0

Woods P, 2-0-14-0