Cricket team comes unstuck at the wicket

THE BOWLING by Gateshead Fell was so ferocious that eventually the nervous youngsters from Seaham Harbour were batting from somewhere near the square leg umpire. Finally they scored.

It was only a leg bye in the last over but the spectators cheered as though it was a matchwinner and the lads from Gateshead looked crestfallen. A few balls later Seaham were all out for one run.

Whatever cricketing disasters may have befallen England in recent years they are nothing compared to that which overwhelmed the Seaham under-19 team in the Durham Senior League. Not one of their batsmen scored.

Gateshead had batted for more than an hour, scoring 132 for 2 but they could have saved themselves the trouble by putting their opponents in first. Seaham lasted for less than nine overs. Stephen Lumsden, 16, who took three wickets, said: 'The game only took so long because the Seaham players were too scared to come into bat. They sat there hoping they weren't going to be next.'

Some of the Seaham team were only 12 but had to face two fast bowlers who play for Durham, now a County Championship side. Stephen plays for the second XI while Neil Killeen, also 16, who took six wickets, toured Zimbabwe with the county side. Jim Dyson, secretary of the Seaham club, admitted: 'Lads were too terrified to bat. Some were practically standing with the square leg umpire when the bowler came tearing in.

'I wouldn't be surprised if some kids never come back following this.'

Mr Dyson added: 'Everyone wants to win but this victory was not in the right spirit in my opinion. I am totally disheartened by what has happened.

'I have written to the league voicing my concerns but no rules were broken.'

The lowest-ever score in first-class cricket is 12. Ray Matthews, secretary of the Durham Senior League, said: 'I have been scouring the record books and there has never been anything like this before.'