More Batting Blues at first Home Game

of 1999

Welcome to the first report from your favourite reporter. Many thanks to Hugh for stepping into the breech and filing a report for the game at Bishop Auckland that I was unable to attend.

Following on from the game at Bishop Auckland and despite some changes in personnel the Middleham again failed to take advantage of some useful fielding and bowling and lost by sixteen runs to the Sedgefield Winkers side at Trimdon Community College Ground

The 30 over match started with Sedgefield batting first and the Middleham bowlers got off to a flying start with two wickets falling in the first three overs. Smythe and Parker held the Sedgefield sides innings together, both reaching retirement scores but the Middleham bowlers in general held the rest of the side to limited scores.

The fielding side took a number of excellent catches with those of note being keeper Huttons two takes behind the wicket and a rasping cover drive taken just off the ground by H.Boorman. It must also be noted that S. Ball took a high looping catch off the bowling of Davison and this surely must remove the tag (can't catch, won't catch) given to him by this reporter during last season. As well as some good fielding from all concerned which was reflected in the limited that number of fines that were produced for this area of the game the bowling effort was also to be applauded. Our guest player Bell with 3-0-5-1 produced best figures. However everyone who bowled did so with credit with only one six against the fielding side in the whole innings (sorry David Shaw).

A period of confusion came at the end of the innings. Captain H.Boorman and the umpires thought that the allocated thirty overs had been completed and the Middleham team were applauding the opposition batsmen off the field only to be told by the scorers that there was still one over to be bowled. As a member of the Middleham team I have to think that this was a mere oversight by the captain and an unfortunate error. Or was it a cunning plan in which the captain used this as a psychological tool to put the opposition off for the final big hitting over. I can't believe it was the latter as Mr. Boorman is a man of upstanding fortitude and the utmost honour. (Do these kind words compensate for me being out for a duck)

At the end of the innings the final score of 119 to win did not seem to be beyond the team.

After a good tea extended slightly due to football playoff games being on satellite the opening partnership of Davison and Boorman lasted for a very little time with Davison playing to one down the legside and looping a top edge to the keeper for a duck.

The Middleham innings was held together by H.Boorman and Derek Shaw each reaching 25 and retiring. The run rate was being kept up and the game revolved around a number of run outs all of which were direct hits on the stumps. The most controversial of which was the runout of Stephen Ball. He claimed he was in and gave the umpire (yours truly) a few harsh words and a long hard look before 'walking'. French playing for the Sedgefield side took three catches and the best bowling of the day came from Parker with 4-0-3-1.

At the end of the day Middleham did not have enough batting prowess to maintain the run rate and the innings fizzled out to a total of 102 off the 30 overs thus losing by 18 runs.

The situation is not irretrievable but the team needs to get its batting act together and this along with good bowling and fielding will surely bring its just rewards.

Sedgefield Winkers

Robinson	ct Hutton	b H.Boorman	1
Smythe	Not out		27
French	ct H.Boorman	b M.Boorman	0
Parker	Not out		25
Hogg		b Bell	0
Stephenson	ct and b Connoly		16
Hockey	ct Hutton	b De Shaw	14
Blocki	ct Ball	b Davison	4
Nuttall	Run out		10
Bland		b Connoly	6
Hockaday	Not out		1

Extras 14

Total 118 off 30 Overs

Bowling

H.Boorman 2-0-9-1, M.Boorman 2-0-8-1, Da Shaw 2-0-17-0, Wetheridge 4-0-11-0, Bell 3-0-5-1, Davison 4-1-13-1, De Shaw 4-0-13-1, Ball 4-0-13-0, Connoly 5-0-12-2

Bishop Middleham

M.Boorman	Run out		6
H.Davison	ct wk	b Hockaday	0
Da Shaw	ct French	b Robinson	12
P.Wetheridge	ct French	b Parker	0
De Shaw	Not out		25
S.Ball	Run out		5
D.Hutton	ct French	b Hockey	3
H.Boorman	Not out		26
M.Connoly		b Blocki	0
M.Bell	Run out		9
A.Shaw	ct Wk	b Hockey	1

Extras 14

Total 102