It was a case of 'six and out' for Middleton-in-Teesdale when they met East Cowton in the Oxbridge Darlington and District League Division B recently.

Yet groundsman Dave Garth almost called the game off and wished he had when the innings lasted only 7.3 overs!

"After all the rain we had on Friday, the wicket was wet and I talked to East Cowton about cancelling the match but we decided that they should travel.

"Let's face it, it was an awful wicket and my decision went pear-shaped," declared Garth who has played for the club for 20 years.

"When East Cowton batted first, the ball was going all over the place and it gradually got worse. I've always believed in playing whenever possible because the season is so short but I certainly had egg on my face on Saturday. I've put that wicket to bed for the season."

The trouble for Middleton-in-Teesdale started with the second ball of the first over and thereafter, East Cowton took at least one wicket in each over before the home side were all out after just 45 balls.

"I've seen teams out for 18, but never for just six runs," exclaimed Garth.

Although Middleton had ten players, only nine batted because they did not want to send an inexperienced youngster in against the might of Phil Holdsworth and Andy Whitfield on an awful wicket.

Holdsworth, who is recovering from a broken leg, took two wickets for three runs while Whitfield, who was bowling with one eye half shut after suffering a blow while in bat, captured six for just a couple of runs as only five were scored from the bat.

One leg bye took the total to six.

East Cowton captain Neil Whelpton praised Middleton for letting the game go ahead.

"Dave Garth rang me on Saturday morning and explained about the wicket but we were happy to go up there and of course it was great to be involved in a record-breaking game especially when it was the other side on the receiving end," said Whelpton.

"We knew what the wicket was like as soon as we went into bat and lost three wickets for just 11 runs before Gordon Woodcock, with an unbeaten 42 and Chris Smith (28) lifted our total to 85-6 from 30 overs.

"The team talk during the tea interval was to go out and try to get early wickets and almost from the first ball it was all downhill for Middleton especially when Andy Whitfield took three wickets in his first over.

"It was a most remarkable game and perhaps no side will ever be dismissed for six runs again. I have seen a team sent back for 18 but thought it was impossible to bowl out a side for six!" said an incredulous Whelpton.

League official Steve Gill confirmed that the all out total of six is indeed a record for the league although a number of years ago Cleveland Bridge made an identical score against Bishop Auckland in a cup tie.

"Then, Bishops had New Zealand Test star Lance Cairns in their line-up so I suppose there was some excuse for Cleveland Bridge!" claimed Gill.

The previous lowest score Gill can find is the nine runs Eryholme made against Barton about 30 years ago when they batted with 11 players. "From what I can determine, Eryholme lost their last eight wickets for just three runs making nine all out but nobody has ever heard of a side being dismissed for six," added Gill.

The Middleton-in-Teesdale team was Neil Watson, Dave Bradley, Gary Waller, John Fletcher, David Watson, Carl Guyll, Dave Garth, Graham Hutchinson and Dan Bainbridge.