After a comfortable opening league win in the coveted indoor Tuesday cricket league, attention immediately turned to selection dilemmas.
So, for this week’s encounter against old foes Cookridge, all eyes were on the Goldsborough team sheet. With J Bishop unable to move his Colonic treatment the starting line up was announced as follows:
- Shorter
- Cockle
- Cummings (D) (wkt) (eye on Henshaws)
- Wilks
- Robshaw
- Morgan
Shorter was left to break the news to the rest of the disappointed squad, and it was down to the action. After a successful toss, the (no where near) consensus was that Goldsborough would field with a view to knocking over the batting line up and chasing with the knowledge of the target score in full posession.
If week 1 saw some long (short) suffering through some slightly short bowling, this week was the exact reverse, exemplified by the turnaround in Robshaw’s new ball control. If last week he was the “chalk”, this week Robshaw was very much the “cheese”. And with all his leaks patched up Morgan provided able support up front. The change bowlers kept the pressure on well to ensure Robshaw’s cheese did not leak away and wickets were regularly taken to restrict Cookridge to 67 from 10 overs.
Shorter was for once able to provide some support in the field, with some high class Ray Charles imitations in taking two of the slowest catches seen in this format of the game. However, if a celebratory high five had been attempted with keeper Cummings, the gloveman would surely have missed. The “eye on Henshaw’s” tag was duly earned (well done team researcher) and a hat trick of catching and stumping chances were grounded to the sound of desperate cries from his “watching” supporters. (Shorter currently preparing for another 200 overs up hill into the wind next season!!!)
So, 68 to win. A quick team chat made the obvious game plan clear – nothing silly, lots of 3’s and we’ll canter home. Easy.
Cue the reality of the situation with an array of attempted 4’s and 6’s – a massive case of the indoor syndrome of “back wall itis” kicking in. Gladly enough shots made it to the wall and Cockle and Shorter were pleased to retire within 5 overs. The target was reached within 6.5 overs, but, with Cheesy Robshaw scoring (we think), a further two overs faced before the score sheet reconciled and the teams walked off for a beer and postmortem.
Instead of a beer and postmortem, however, it was time for a beer and a heckle. So, everyone assumed a position on the balcony ready for the start of the psychological demise of “the lad in the blue t shirt”. As his mood deteriorated further following a controversial runout in which “Fines” didn’t know even the most basic of cricketing rules, the Goldsborough heckles worsened. He is surely now in police custody after burning his house down whilst fully inhabited.
With the selection meeting for next week planned for circa. 3 am Sunday morning, the squad remains on tenterhooks.
Bare facts
- Cookridge 67-5 (10 overs)
- Some lad 38*
- D Cummings high fives missed 3
- R Cheese 2-0-7-2
- Goldsborough 71-1 (officially 8 overs, but probably 7 in reality!!)
- Cockle 21*
- Shorter 22*