1st XI, Northumberland & Tyneside Senior League A1 - Hills Hat-Trick inspires Morpeth Victory

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Morpeth got their season going on Saturday, in an eventful encounter with Benwell and Walbottle. In an action-packed afternoon, awash with runs, wickets and incident; Morpeth ended as comfortable victors.

Chris Reagan kept a 100% record as far as tosses are concerned and chose to give his batsmen first use of a flat but low wicket. The chief threat to openers Reynolds and Ruckspin was the consistent and brisk Graham Angus, with the latter losing his off-stump to a length delivery that barely got above boot lace height, for just 4 runs. Reynolds and new partner Reagan remained watchful, and once coming to terms with the conditions began to look assured. Reynolds was elegant in dispatching of anything loose, and a lightning outfield ensured that the Aussie got full value for an array of cuts and drives through the off side, and clips through leg. Reagan was starting to flourish when he unluckily slipped mid sweep shot, almost ending in the splits, with the end product being a simple catch at short fine leg and a wicket for Shahid.

Maxted then joined Reynolds in the phase of the innings that accelerated the away side's score, with the pair upping the ante immediately. With Maxted's timing clean from ball one, Reynolds climbed into anything slightly over pitched and moved into overdrive, advancing down the track regularly, hitting hard and straight for boundaries galore. Reynolds reached his first ton of the season in typical fashion, Waddeli bowling too straight, only to be whipped through straight midwicket by the classy left-hander. An innings that showed responsibility as well as adventure was over when Angus returned and Reynolds tickled a wide one to the wicketkeeper for 112.

Maxted was not perturbed and merely increased the run rate with a multitude of hefty blows down the ground. A sprinkling of maximums, one with assistance from Waddeli, and he had brought up a quick fire fifty. A rare mistake then led to his downfall on 54 and broke what was becoming a promising partnership with Wailes, Waddeli getting revenge after an attempted smash went straight up, Angus taking the catch at mid off. After some busy batting and a pulled six, Wailes also tried one big shot to many to Waddeli's medium pace, caught at square leg for 16.

Barry Hills showed good timing but was ousted when beginning to look dangerous for 14, and Elliott was bowled following a filthy swipe across the line. Edwin Brown lived up his title of 'Big Bopper Broon' with soon powerful clouts towards the end, one huge six sailed out of the ground over wide mid-on. With help from Stuart Hills, they took what looked like an impressive score to an incredibly challenging 287-7.

Morpeth took to the field in buoyant mood, with usual opener 'Dougal' Craigs showing consistency and movement. Chris Horner was out after sustaining an injury playing netball, so Stuart Hills took the new ball and set the tone for his later antics by regularly beating the bat of both batsmen, Reid being especially fortunate. The luckless seam attack could not get the breakthrough, but Reagan provided that with Benwell and Walbottle on 50, a grass cutter getting the first wicket. Skiddy seam wizard Paul Jackson was recalled but failed to get a wicket as Reid and professional Singh rebuilt the innings and maintained a run-a-ball scoring rate.

Elliott's spin failed to bare fruit for Morpeth and the spinners were proving expensive as the powerful, if sometimes streaky, Reid progressed to a hundred. Even when turning to Reynolds for the golden touch, the Batsmen looked like forcing an improbable victory. The breakthrough finally came when Reid's luck ran out as Craigs returned, skewing to long off where Ruckspin made good ground and pouched a tough overhead catch to send the hosts into turmoil.

Then Hills returned for what may end up as the spell of the season come September. The graceful Singh mistimed a leg-side swipe with Elliott making an awkward high catch over his shoulder. Hills then went on to remove the mentally unstable Iqbal first ball plumb in front. Then Waddeli had his middle stump smashed out of the ground with a perfect in-swinging Yorker to present a hat-trick for Hills. An over later, the home side’s only remaining threat, Graham Angus, was soon devoid of his middle stump as well, and Hills also took another LBW to finish with 5-32 in a remarkable and match-winning spell. Craig also nipped one away to clean bowl Smith, and claimed his fourth with an outside edge neatly taken by the sharp Maxted, to finish with 4-39. Benwell and Walbottle lost their final 9 wickets for just 26 runs, finishing on 213 after some incredible bowling.

Jonny Wailes

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