THE VILLAGE CRICKET MATCH.
(
Problems Concerning Games.)
In a cricket match, Dingley Dell v. All Muggleton, the latter had the
first innings. Mr. Dumkins and Mr. Podder were at the wickets, when the
wary Dumkins made a splendid late cut, and Mr. Podder called on him to
run. Four runs were apparently completed, but the vigilant umpires at
each end called, "three short," making six short runs in all. What
number did Mr. Dumkins score? When Dingley Dell took their turn at the
wickets their champions were Mr. Luffey and Mr. Struggles. The latter
made a magnificent off-drive, and invited his colleague to "come along,"
with the result that the observant spectators applauded them for what
was supposed to have been three sharp runs. But the umpires declared
that there had been two short runs at each end--four in all. To what
extent, if any, did this manoeuvre increase Mr. Struggles's total?
Answer:
[Illustration:
| Mr. Dumkins >>-->
|------------------------> |
| <------------------- |
| -------------------> |
1 |<----------------------- |
| |
| <------------------------|
| -------------------> |
| <------------------- |
| ----------------------->|
| <--<< Mr. Podder |
| Mr. Luffey >>-->
|------------------------> |
| <------------------- |
| ----------------------->|
2 | |
|<----------------------- |
| -------------------> |
| <------------------------|
<--<< Mr. Struggles |
]
The diagram No. 1 will show that as neither Mr. Podder nor Mr. Dumkins
can ever have been within the crease opposite to that from which he
started, Mr. Dumkins would score nothing by his performance. Diagram No.
2 will, however, make it clear that since Mr. Luffey and Mr. Struggles
have, notwithstanding their energetic but careless movements, contrived
to change places, the manoeuvre must increase Mr. Struggles's total by
one run.
