Cricket-loving vicar Rev Hugh Bearn had memories of a maiden bowling him over as he earned the dubious honour of a "Golden Duck Award".
Mr Bearn, of St Anne's Church, Tottington, collected a first ball dismissal in the Manchester Diocesan Cricket Club's first match of the season against rivals from the Chester diocese.
He was caught out when he snicked the ball into the hands of the wicketkeeper.
To make matters worse, first slip on the opposing team was a Yorkshireman who had married Mr Bearn's childhood sweetheart some 27 years earlier!
The result was not all bad news for Mr Bearn, who became the first ever winner of Wisden Cricketer's "Golden Duck Award".
The title won his team a day's coaching from players of Lancashire County Cricket Club.
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