NEWQUAY batsman Martin Hocking was Timed Out against St Just at the Sports Centre on Saturday – a bizarre and rare dismissal in Cornwall Cricket League history.

Hocking, batting at five, appeared to be caught unawares when Newquay lost three wickets in quick succession with the total stuck on 21 in reply to St Just's 234 for six declared in the ECB Premier League fixture.

Newquay chairman Dave Eggins said: "The score of 21 should go down in the annals of recent history as the score when four wickets were lost including a Timed Out when Martin, clearly taken unawares by the clatter of wickets, took four minutes to reach the crease.

"Martin was replacing our skipper, Joe Crane, who disappeared into the changing room and had no idea of the drama unfolding before our eyes.

"Martin was putting on his pads etc in the outfield in front of everyone. When he got to the middle the St Just players, standing in a huddle, appealed when he had taken his stance.

Incredulity

"The umpire, John Moolman, much to his own embarrassment, had to give him out.

"There was an air of incredulity and the whole affair seemed somewhat surreal and literally stuck in time.

"At 21 for four the game was effectively lost."

Newquay went on to be dismissed for 97 in 38 overs as title-chasing St Just secured 20 points from their 137-run victory.

Cornwall Cricket League media officer Michael Weeks told Guardian Sport: "A Time Out dismissal is very rare and certainly the first time I've reported it in more than ten years and a lifetime of my club cricket before.

"You are allowed three minutes (to get to the wicket) and I gather he took over four."

Cricklet's Law 31 (a) states that: unless Time has been called, the incoming batsman must be in position to take guard or for his partner to be ready to receive the next ball within three minutes of the fall of the previous wicket. If this requirement is not met, the incoming batsman will be out, Timed out.

● More cricket, p106-107.