Low-score blues
Ok, Burble-fans. It is probably a measure of the psychological impact that the following event has had on me that I have taken weeks to build up to a report on these pages, but...
I recently played in a first-round fixture in the university 'cuppers' tournament held over a 40-over format between the various college teams in Oxford. My college (a combined Wolfson and St Cross force) put in a fine bowling effort vs St Johns, restricting them to 171-7 off their 40 overs, and both bowling and fielding well in the process. In reply, we were bowled out for - ahem - 17.
Yes, that's seriously 17. Seventeen. As in, the UK minimum driving age, the seventh prime number, the age at which the band Travis's stretching of the truth resulted in inclement weather (and, presumably, cancelled cricket matches). 17.
It wasn't like the opposition even bowled particularly well. Straight and full, I'll grant you, but...17 all out?! See the back pages of this link for the gory details.
Anyway, has anyone ever heard of a lower innings total? I'll wager not.
7 comments:
Oh yes! I can remember playing in a team with a fellow member of the Burble Team when we reached the dizzy heights of 0-7, that is no runs for seven wickets. We all cheered when we scored a boundary with a perfect reverse cow shot (that is through the slips). I think we recovered to 13 all out and we considered this to be an unlucky number as we lost.
I stand corrected - 17 all out sounds fairly competitive now!
I remember another occasion of 0-6 but we recovered to about 80. Other memories of this one are that as captain I'd taken my team out of the tea room and into the changing room to deliver a pep talk after a fielding performance which grew in hindsight and stature as the batting progressed. I've never given a pep talk again (for pep talk actually read a rollicking).
An oppo. quick bowler with one of the world's bentest arms tok 9fer and bought a party 7 (big can of rubbish beer for the younger readers)as there was no bar at the ground - why were we there ?
The Bermuda women's team were bowled out for 13 and lost to South Africa within 4 balls of the reply which was a pretty special effort.
I remember my school team being bowled out for 13 as well when I was about 10 or 11 years old. I was a glorious 6 not out. The amazing thing was that we were only chasing 18 and still lost!!
For many years in the main bar of the clubhouse all of the contributors to this thread use regularly, there was on display a scorebook page dating back 50 or so years showing two bowlers in an innings bowling throughout, one taking 7 for 0 and the other (who I think was the England rugby international Fred Huskisson) 3 for 3. I don't remember if there were any extras, so don't remember what the total was. I don't know whether it's still there, but if not I'm sure if you ask one of the older members (PDN or DAAS?) they'll remember the details.
talking about low scores this reminds me of a story i read about a match between Bushey CC and Watford boys....never say never
For the greatest comeback of all time however, it is hard to beat the match played between Bushey and Watford Grammar School in 1959. Bushey, the home side were bowled out for 30 without a single player reaching double figures. No doubt Watford Grammar would have been confident of victory and none more so than when their opening batsmen had moved the score onto 24-0. Bushey though somehow managed to turn the game on its head from this point, bowling their opponents out for only a further 5 runs to claim victory by a single run. Bowler Robin Leach took 7 for 3 in five overs and finished with figures of 7 for 10. A lowly school game this fixture may have been, but it is hard to imagine a more emphatic turnaround in fortunes
Peter Lamb's correct; OMT 3XI bowled out West Herts 3XI for 3, around 60 years ago. Fred Huskinson took 3 for 3 (all off one over) and John Goddard took 7 for 0. It was reported on the back page of that day's Evening Standard with the headline: 'Rugby internationsl takes 3 for 3'. Goddard wasn't mentioned in the article!
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