1st XI - Leason Leads Morpeth to Dream Start

Morpeth started the season in emphatic style at home to Burnopfield on Saturday, with new signing Darren Leason leading the way in a sound display from a young home side. On a day when cricket seemed unlikely, Morpeth played the green Longhirst conditions to perfection.

Skipper Reagan won the toss and decided that the slightly damp wicket would suit his bowlers, and he looked to be proved right as curly seamer James Craigs took the wicket of opener Atkinson for 1, as the captain took an opportunist catch at slip after the right hander had inside edged onto his pad. Craigs continued to bowl well and use the seaming wicket with Jones but veteran Allen and local professional Baxter managed to work through a tough phase of play and keep their wickets in tact.

The pair began to forge a solid partnership with Allen surviving while carrying an injury and Baxter looking to be positive from the off. His clean hitting soon saw Wailes out of the attack, and Palmer bowled with discipline but was also unable to make the breakthrough. After some lusty blows, the drinks interval came and went with the pair looking stronger, and wickets looking less likely. Reagan deserved more from a consistent spell but it was fellow skinny spin sensation Paul Elliott that made the breakthrough.

With both batsmen past fifty and the run rate climbing towards 4 an over after a sluggish start, danger man Baxter was bowled by the stick-like Morpethian, a wicket that had been coming after several false shots, when a flighted delivery spun to bowl the beefy right-hander. Worse was to follow for the visitors, as Allen took a risky single to Wailes at mid-on, whose direct hit saw the back of the opener for 60.

Morpeth then set about Burnopfield’s batsmen, and a collapse ensued. Captain Smith was next out, trapped in front by a flatter Elliott delivery. Youngster Lovell was next out for 1, deceived by Elliott to spoon to mid-wicket, where Maxted took a stylish catch to his right. Elliott finished with 3-40 from his 13 overs, and seamers Craigs and Palmer returned to finish the job. Palmer yorked Radcliff for 9, and had Tompson LBW with a similar delivery without scoring. Craigs claimed 3 further wickets to end with 4-32, with two more batsmen trapped leg before and Stoneman last out when Wailes took a catch running backwards at mid-wicket to end the innings 190 all out, having been 120-1.

Leason and Reynolds strode to the crease knowing that conditions would be testing. However, both looked to be positive immediately and Morpeth raced away at more than a run a ball. Leason, a new arrival from Backworth, showed why he is a regular figure in the league averages with an array of cuts and drive piercing the off-side with regularity. Reynolds also looked imperious with a smattering of flicks and pulls sailing to the boundary. The Aussie was then bowled by Baxter for 26, but Chicken-legged skipper Reagan continued where Reynolds had left off.

Leason cruised to his half-century, showing no let up to an inexperienced Burnopfield attack. Reagan then put Radcliffe’s leg-spin to the sword, bludgeoning to youngster for sixes over cow corner. The pair soon realised that the weather may close in so launched into Burnopfield’s friendly seam attack, with maximums disappearing over the leg-side from both batsmen, with a slog-sweep from Leason taking him towards three figures. He was 91 not out when Reagan nudged the winning run to end on 57 unbeaten and win by 9 wickets, with 191-1 off 31 overs.

Morpeth hope for more of the same next Saturday, away at Whickham.

Man of the Match – Darren Leason

Jonny Wailes
 

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