Oh I do like to be beside the Seaside!
Date: 12/09/21 | Location: Elie Beach | Conditions: Overcast | Overs: 30
DCC took to the beach to square off against the Ship Inn CC for the Annual Dollar Shell Trophy, generously donated by club legend Bob Sheriff.
Spirits were high, and as always the idillic setting and crowd, scattered around the on-looking veranda, made for quite an occasion. Captain Sandy Cunningham (appropriate first name) won the toss and elected to have a bowl. As per for beach cricket, it was decided that all players (minus one) should bowl 3 overs each.
Given the saturated sand, it was vital that all balls should be bowled full, and Tim Dillion and Jason Syme were tasked with pushing the ball down the track first. Although both men failed in their efforts to pick up a scalp, they were extremely frugal as only 12 runs came off the opening 6 overs.
The first bowling change was made, and the first wicket was soon claimed as P. Smith took a swipe at Phil Rourke’s Yorker, only to see the bails popping off. The tight bowling continued and as Rourke and Adam Buchanan-Smith reached the end of their respective spells the score of 31/1 had DCC’s tails up.
Cameron Glasgow and Simon Breasley were given the ball and with the latter’s first ball he sent down a shorter one that popped up in the sand only to have J. Williams cut it straight to Rourke at backward-point. He would double his tally a few overs later dismissing J. Robertson for 5. Just after the mid point drinks break DCC realised, somewhat embarrassingly, that we had only 10 players despite a host of club members on the boundary edge. Connor Adam hurriedly answered the call and order was restored.
The 19th over saw some great tactical know how from Buchanan-Smith in the field as he repositioned Dillion and it paid an instant dividend. The talent C. Spilsbury cracked one of Al Stewart only for it to zip straight into the moved mans mitts. Déjà vu would strike a few overs later as Stewart got his second, but this time it was Buchanan-Smith who strategically moved himself from cover to mid-off and took a fine catch. Al Stewart must be commended for his suffocating work and a couple of scalps.
As the over count moved through the twenties, The Ship found some form through the father and son pair of P. and L. Bodger. There was however a moment of controversy behind the stumps as Glasgow felt, erm, short changed as the ball made its way through the slightly irregular gap in the stumps and failed to remove the bails. Now with Jnr. and Snr. both firmly in, the possibility of a late onslaught loomed, but Nichol Wheatley delivered an impressionistic beaut and beat the younger Bodger’s defence.
The innings would come to a close in fantastic style as Cunningham gritted his teeth and bowled a ripper to send the elder Bodger packing…only to do the exact same to N. Boyd with the next, and last, ball of the innings. Hat-trick opportunity pending in 12 months time! End of the innings: The Ship Inn 110/8.
Best figures:
A. Stewart (2 for 5 of 3), S. Brealsey (2 for 9 of 3),
S. Cunningham (2 for 16 of 3)
Chasing only 3.7 an over the chances of DCC victory seemed high. Especially considering Stewart and more notably Breasley got the innings off on the right track with a few boundaries. But as the tide started to creep across the Firth of Forth, the match turned on its head. The third over saw A. Nairn remove both Stewart and Bruce Harper in the space of 3 deliveries without either man adding much to the cause. Things would only get worse as Cunningham was “inexplicably” given out leg-before to a ball that he self-identified as having pitched yards outside leg.
The ducks continued to quack as Glasgow joined the previous two bats back on the boundary without adding a run to his name. And they were soon joined by Breasley who was dismissed for 10.
Even Buchanan-Smith, who has played on the beach this season already for the McGlynn Brothers, could not get anything on one from Robertson and was sent packing for 1. Phil Rourke did manage to put a temporary stop to the flood of wickets and began to form something vaguely reminiscent of a partnership with Dillion. Unfortunately normal service resumed and Dillion would be bowled by Smith for 4. Syme, and the last minute call up Adam also let out a quack and returned without using any of the scorers ink.
All hopes now rested on the new man Wheatley with Rourke to miraculously pull the rabbit out the hat. A string of boundaries started to give a glimmer of hope, but down came the curtain as Rourke was run out for a commendable 18. DCC all out for 56.
Top scorers (loosely put),
P. Rourke (18), Extras (15), S. Breasley (10)
Despite the performance a good day was had by all, and this is due to the phenomenal service and company provided by the Ship Inn. The free beer and wonderful food made the loss that much easier to take. We always look forward to our trip out to Fife’s Beautiful East Nuek and we encourage any passing day-trippers to pop in to what is a wonderful establishment with wonderful service, beverage and food – The Ship Inn
Finally, credit to Scottish Artist Nichol Wheatley for the header image sketch, of our match, on this page.
DCC Man of the Match, Phil Rourke – “The top order let us down but well played the Ship!”
RESULT: SHIP INN VICTORY BY 55 RUNS