Woeful batting performance leads to misery for Middleham

In yet another game Bishop Middleham have failed to live up to their expectations and lost a game due to their own shortcomings. A team that has in the past been quite reliable in the batting stakes tonight outdid themselves with a woeful performance.

Having been put into bat on a fairly sedate wicket the first four batsmen made a grand total of 3 runs off the bat between them. (Scores in order were M.Boorman 1, David Shaw 0, Phil Woods 2 and Mike Connelly 0). This capitulation to the opposition bowling could have had dire consequences on the length of the match but a steadying influence was put on the innings by Hugh Boorman and Harry Davison who took the score from four for four to 57 for four when Hugh retired on 25. Davison was joined by Stephen Ball who made 2 before swinging across the line and being bowled. This led to the entry of David Hutton who once again refused to go for a run and this left Davison stranded and run out. Now it is not that I am a bitter man and in fact on the previous occasion that I was run out I may have been wrong to got for the run but tonight the second run was always on. Hutton hit a shot to the long boundary and the first run had been made before the fielder picked the ball up. Davison turned saw this and went for the second but Hutton refused to move. The return throw although quite quick was not on target in fact it was picked by the fielder half way down the wicket and if Hutton had gone then he would have easily made it. However Davison was left stranded at the same end as Hutton and so had to go, run out. ) Now I realise that I have spent a long time on this point but I feel that putting it down on paper has had a cathartic effect for me personally. Now having digressed from the main emphasis of the innings I’ll get back to the main plot. Following Davison’s departure then Hutton made 12 including a fine drive for a six (this was a resplendent shot and I would imagine he would have been satiated by it!). The Middleham side had two guest players in the form of Harry French and Glynn Lewis who made 10 and 5 respectively and in the final over David Boorman assisted Harry French to reach a final total of 88, with Boorman finishing on 3 not out.

On this wicket 88, and with a short boundary, a total of 88 was always going to be difficult to defend. This proved to the case with the team from Barnard Castle reaching the required total off 16 overs. Highlights of the bowling performance were an excellent two overs from David Boorman taking 1 wicket for 7 runs. (He had the batsmen beaten all ends up) Also Glynn Lewis bowled two overs for five runs taking two wickets (best figures of the match). The other main bowlers did reasonably well but no one else could match those figures. The only other wicket taker being Mike Connelly.

Bowling at the other end of the spectrum included Phil Woods, one over for 14 including two sixes (Batsman not, Bowler not, only leaves fielding left), Michael Boorman one over for 12 and David Shaw who bowled one over for ten runs.

Middleham have a big hill to climb to get back to their best form and must now concentrate on trying to produce the goods for their final game of the season against King James in September.

On a brighter note from Ron Woods point of view the ducks, sixes, run out and wides helped to increase the funds within the fine box.

Bishop Middleham

M.Boorman	ct and b Arwell	1
Dave Shaw	ct and b Brian	0
P.Woods	ct b Arwell	2
M.Connelly	ct b Brian	0
H.Boorman	not out (retired)	25
H.Davison	run out	20
S.Ball	b Rhodes	2
D.Hutton	ct Fry	12
G.Lewis	b Fry	5
H.French	not out	10
D.Boorman	not out	3
extras 9	Total	88

Barnard Castle

D.Todd	b Connelly	10
Arwell	ct French b Lewis	21
Andy H	b Boorman	1
Brian C	not out (retired)	26
Tucker	ct and b Lewis	0
Mark S	not out	9
Dave Sp	not out	15
extras 5	total	89 (off 16 overs)

Bowling

H.Davison 2-0-10-0, H.Boorman 2--0-9-0, M.Connelly 2-0-9-1, D.Boorman 2-0-7-1,

P.Woods 1-0-14-0, G.Lewis 2-0-5-2, S.Ball 2-0-10-0, M.Boorman 1-0-12-0,

H.French 1-0-4-0, Da Shaw 1-0-10-0