2nd XI - Morpeth Batsmen Prosper to Setup First Win

Morpeth Second's got their season under way on Saturday with an away game against Greenside, the team that finished third and one place above Morpeth last season. A superb batting performance saw Morpeth post 200 for 3 from their 45 overs and then the bowlers took over and made light work of Greenside's batting, dismissing their hosts for 136 and claiming a maximum 20 point win.

On a warm and sunny early May day the Greenside pitch and outfield looked in excellent condition, Morpeth were missing a couple of their regular batsmen, but had a strong bowling line up and Captain Tom Wright was planning on fielding first if he won the toss. Fortunately the toss was lost and Morpeth were inserted. 

Opening batsmen Stephen Cowell and Ben Kemsley started cautiously against some good seam bowling from Greenside, in particular Jones who looked quite lively, on a pitch with some varying bounce. However, with some sharp running and by picking the gaps the Morpeth openers managed to move the score along at 3 an over, with the only scare coming as Jones got one to nip back and hit Cowell's off stump, only for the bails to stay in place.

Kemsley then had a life as he cut hard a rank wide long hop, the ball flashing at the Greenside gully, who managed only to stick his chest out and show more control than a lot of Newcastle footballers this season, in killing it dead at his feet. His hands however, didn't even flinch.

As the Greenside opening bowlers tired and were replaced Cowell and Kemsley began to up the scoring rate and started to show some excellent shots down the ground and square of the wicket, capitalising on the width offered by the Greenside change bowlers.

Morpeth reached the twenty over mark with the score reading 76 for none and the partnership was proving to be a very fruitful one. Kemsley was now seeing the ball beautifully and executing the cover driver with delightful ease, and Cowell was able to also utilise the short cover boundary for his favourite shot.

With the pair looking set for a century opening partnership, Cowell fell caught and bowled to Scott for 39 with the score on 96. It was an unfortunate end to a well paced innings, but had built a solid platform for the team. Captain Wright came in at number three and along with Kemsley immediately upped the scoring rate. In the next few over the boundaries were peppered with fours and a couple of sixes, as Wright capitalised on anything short, pulling to the leg side, and Kemsley hitting through the V with ease, including a maximum to cow corner.

The pair added 64 runs in under 10 overs to really accelerate the scoring rate and put the Greenside fielders and bowlers under significant pressure. Wright was eventually out bowled by Jones to one that nipped back and claimed his leg stump. Ben Jones entered the fray at number four and continued where Wright had left off, with some lusty blows to keep the score board racing along. Kemsley was approaching his hundred as the overs were running out, and reached the final over on 92, but without the strike.

Kemsley managed to get on to strike with five balls to go, the first ball was an attempted heave to the offside which garnered one run. Jones got another single to get Kemsley back on strike, However, an attempted smash down the ground was top edged and well held by Wallis, the Greenside keeper running back. 

Chris Maxted

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