The world of cricket was stunned today after a team playing a league match managed to be bowled out for just three runs.
News of the shockingly low score by Wirral CC 1st XI spread fast on Twitter and attracted comment as far away as Australia, where fans of the sport are still celebrating the turnaround in their side's fortunes after they regained the Ashes from England during the winter.
Wirral thought they had a good chance of beating Haslington in the TACS Partnership Cheshire League Division Three match after bowling out their opponents for 108 in yesterday's clash.
Wirral had won their opening match of the campaign the previous week and one of the players, Matt Garrett, 24, said: "It was a bit of a pudding of a wicket but we had chased down a score of more than 200 to win last week and were confident we could get close to their score.
"However there was some good line and length bowling from them, and some poor shot selection from us, and we began to crumble as the pressure built up. It was just one of those days - you don't expect the first 10 batsmen all to get ducks. It was one of those strange things - that's why we love the game of cricket."
The only run was scored by the number 11 batsman, Connor Hodson, and the highest scorer was extras - there were two leg byes.
Mr Garrett, who is studying sports development and physical education at Liverpool John Moores University, said: "I hear it's even in the news in Australia. It was just dying down after they beat us 5-0 in the Ashes and we've prodded the beast again."
The team has its third league match of the season next week. "I think we'll do better," Mr Garrett said. "Well, we can't do much worse."
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