1st XI - Maxted’s Remarkable Century

Morpeth went to league leaders Leadgate on Saturday with hopes of being able to complete their first game in three weeks due to the adverse weather. However on arrival things were not looking promising with a wet pitch and rain in the air, the toss would have been an excellent one to win, with bowling first the only option on what would be a lively pitch. However the toss was won by the Leadgate skipper who inserted Morpeth into bat.

Play started on time at 1:30 and the pitch proved to have a bit of life in it with some signs of uneven bounce, Morpeth openers Reynolds and Michael Craigs were watchful early on and with only 4 completed over’s and 1 run on the board the rain began to fall heavily and play was stopped. With the continued rain play was halted until 4pm.

However the recommencement of the game was to lead to a truly remarkable piece of batting by Morpeth’s wicket keeper batsman Ben Maxted. After Michael Craigs was bowled playing on for 19, Maxted was promoted up the order from his usual number 5 spot to number 3 in what turned out to be an inspired move by skipper Reagan. Maxted entered the fray with Morpeth on 42 for 1. Maxted was in inspirational form from the first over pulling Hutchinson out of the ground for 6 and from then on it was evident that he was picking the ball up well. He was hitting the Leadgate bowling to every part of the ground, predominately straight and over mid wicket as he moved towards his half century

Reynolds meanwhile was quietly playing a very steady knock at the other end and looking solid in defence and manoeuvring the ball around the field well. Maxted on the other hand was in truly devastating form playing the knock of his career so far. He brought up his 50 in no time which included 5 sixes and came in under 20 balls. It was then that he kicked on further, hitting everything that was bowled at him all out of the park. Bringing up his hundred off less than 50 balls and Morpeth were motoring towards a total that could lead to a declaration, thus enabling them to try and bowl Leadgate out as time was against them. Having moved past 50 with ease Reynolds began to join in the act quickly moving towards what would have been his 3rd century of the season. However it was not to be as he was bowled trying to hit Leadgate’s opening bowler Innes over the pavilion for 92. The end of Reynolds brought an end to a staggering 2 wicket partnership of 200 from 16.5 over’s.

Upon Morpeth’s declaration Maxted finished on 133 not out which included an unbelievable 15 sixes and 8 fours in what was truly one of the best century’s scored by a Morpeth batsman in recent time. Morpeth declared on 252 for 3 off 37.4 over’s.

Morpeth’s openers had a short time to try to bowl Leadgate out and it was Horner who got the breakthrough clean bowling Innes for 14 and then picking up the wickets of R Hockaday (46) and Hutchinson (47) finishing with figures of 3 for 28. However time was against both teams and they both finished with the game drawn with Morpeth gaining 12 points out of an afternoon that belonged to Maxted.
 
Jonny Wailes

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