1st XI - Morpeth Start New Season Confidently
 

Morpeth 1st XI started the 2009 campaign in the top tier of the Northumberland and Tyneside Senior League having been promoted the previous year. Their first call of duty was played on Saturday away at Benwell and Walbottle who had managed to escape relegation from the division on the last day of the previous season. On paper this fixture was therefore a game that could ease the 1st XI into life in the top division and it proved to be very much the case.

Captain Chris Reagan won the toss and choose to field first hoping to make use of what was a greenish April wicket at Benwell. New acquisition Marky Turnbull took the new ball, bowling down what is a large slope at the Benwell ground with last years league player of the Jack Palmer having to toil up the slope. Both bowlers bowled well from the outset bowling consistently good areas and beating the outside edge on numerous occasions. Marky Turnbull made the initial breakthrough trapping Waddell LBW for only 8. Both bowlers continued to bowl well without any luck beating the bat again time after time.

It was a change in bowling that brought a change to this however with Mikey Craigs replacing Turnbull from the top end. Big things were expected from Mikey having returned from a season in Australia and he didn’t disappoint. Craigs ripped through the top order removing 4 of the top 5 batsman in a spell of bowling ending with figures of 4 for 17 from his 7 overs. James Craigs also pitched in removing Cook for a patient 14 however one lofted drive to many found the safe hand of M Craigs who made no mistake. This left the home side struggling on 73 for 5.

Captain Reagan replaced M Craigs and did so with an immediate impact taking the wickets of Prudhoe, Birkell and Collins in quick succession finishing with very impressive figures of 3 for 11 from his 5.3 overs with Morpeth bowling Benwell and Walbottle out for 121 inside 42 overs a total which Morpeth fancied chasing down with a strong batting line up and the wicket playing nicely for an early season wicket.

Darren Leason and Blake Reynolds opened the batting and seemed comfortable facing the new ball until Reynolds was unfortunate to get one that kept low on him as he went back to pull and as bowed for 1. This brought Jonny Craigs to the crease at number 3 and after surviving a chance whist still in single figures went onto put the Benwell and Walbottle attack to the sword with some lovely timed cover and square drives and punishing anything short. Leason looked as comfortable lofting the bowling attack over cover and mid off for consecutive boundaries. The two batsmen brought up their 100 partnership inside an hour and a half however Leason fell agonising short of his half century when he was bowled by Monsoor on 49 which included 7 fours and came off 77 balls.

Craigs continued to look strong at the other end however a small middle order collapse saw Hall and Reagan come to the wicket without scoring however Morpeth got home to victory by 6 wickets with J Craigs finishing on 49 not out a knock that included 8 fours and came from 79 balls.

The victory saw Morpeth pick up a maximum 20 points and get their season off to the best possible start. The man of the match was Michael Craigs for his excellent bowling performance which helped to set the side up for what was a comfortable win in the end. Next Morpeth take on Tynedale at home at their Longhirst ground this Saturday starting at 1:30pm. Our thanks to Morpeth CC’s main sponsors for the 2009 season - St James Place Wealth Management and Develop Solutions.
 

Man of the match: Michael Craigs

Match Report: Ben Maxted

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