2nd XI - Morpeth Make Hay While Sun Shines
 

Morpeth Second XI played their first home game of the season against Whickham on Saturday, and with sunny conditions and a good pitch everything was set for a competitive match. Morpeth won the toss and choose to bat first, piling up the runs in the first 25 overs with plenty of boundaries, both fours and sixes. Despite losing wickets late on, Morpeth still posted an excellent 247 for four of 45 overs. The Morpeth bowlers took some stick early on, but the introduction of off-spinner Craigs slowed the Whickham run rate, whilst also regularly chipping away with wickets. All though some late showers threatened to ruin the day, Morpeth ran out comfortable winners with Whickham closing on 209 for eight after their 45 overs.

Morpeth Captain, Chris Maxted, had no hesitation in choosing to bat after winning the toss on what looked like a good batsmen's pitch and with Whickham still 5 players short due to poor map reading skills. Stephen Cowell and Jonny Craigs opened the batting and began well, with any poor deliveries dispatched to the boundary with a touch of class. Both batsmen were timing the ball superbly and produced some sumptuous cover and off drives. The runs were flowing freely and Morpeth made the 10 over mark at 48 without loss.

However, it was the introduction of the off spinner Cameron when the fireworks began. With Craigs taking a particular liking to Cameron's bowling and the short leg side boundary, peppering it on a regular basis with some massive sixes. The first maximum brought up his half century in double quick time. Meanwhile, Cowell at the other end was progressing very nicely by picking off the bad ball for a boundary and keeping the scoreboard ticking over in between with some good running.

The pair brought up the first century opening stand for Morpeth this season, in the 21st over, and were not stopping there. Craigs was now in full flow and dispatching almost every other ball to the boundary, with one Cameron over going for 15 including two maximums. In an astonishing 30 balls Craigs had raced from 50 to 100, it was an excellent display of batting with many great shots, the highlight being a cover driven six off Snell.

Unfortunately, it couldn't last and Craigs fell on the extra cover boundary to a diving catch when on 111, Nelson being unlucky for Morpeth. However, the opening partnership had been stunning with 149 runs coming in 26 overs, and Morpeth were set to post a massive total. Jimmy Ingram came to the wicket to join Cowell and played some lovely shots down the ground from both the off spinner, Cameron, and the pace of Snell and Ruddick. Cowell at the other end was progressing nicely and brought up his first fifty for three seasons with an excellent cover drive.

The partnership was broken, after amassing 43 runs, when some confusion with the running led to Ingram being run out for 20. Ben Jones came in at number four and scored eight before attempting a sweep slog across the line but failed to connect with the ball, and was given out LBW. Jamie Forster also scored eight at number five before being caught in the circle off the bowling of Ruddick. These  two partnerships had added 44 runs so going into the last over the score was on 241, and Cowell and Maxted managed to add another six runs. At the close of the Morpeth innings the scoreboard showed 247 for four, with Cowell carrying his bat superbly for 76, and Maxted on 5 not out.

Whickham began their reply with Cameron and Macintyer opening the batting and they came up against Morpeth new ball pair Ben Jones and Nick Rose. Despite a couple of tight first overs, it didn't take long before Macintyer started to tee off on anything that was of a good length. Cameron was also hitting some good shots through the covers, and at the ten over point Whickham were well placed on 41 without loss.

Maxted replaced Jones and saw his first over dispatched through the leg side by Macintyer, conceding 12 in total. However, the next few overs were much tighter as Maxted found a better line and length. The much needed breakthrough then came in the 18th over when a well disguised slower ball from Rose tempted Cameron into a big heave towards cow corner. However, the shot was mistimed and Stephenson took an excellent catch over his shoulder while running back from mid on, Whickham were 84 for 1.

Morton came to the crease for the visitors and Craigs replaced Rose at the Hall end of the ground with his off spin. Unfortunately, some poor fielding meant that the first three overs went for 21, but he was showing enough guile to be defeating the batsmen in the flight and off the pitch. At the other end the breakthrough should have been effected when Morton played tentatively to Maxted and chipped one back into the offside, but despite making good ground to his right Maxted put the return catch down. So Morton survived, but only for a while.

At the other end Macintyer had progressed to his half century with another lusty blow through mid on from Craigs. But Craigs wasn't to be kept out of the game any longer as he finally tempted Morton into an expansive shot, but the Whickham batsmen played all around the delivery and was comprehensively bowled with the score on 118 in the 28th over. Even though Whickham had been scoring at a good rate, the required run rate was now above 7 an over, and Maxted ringed the field down the ground to limit the boundaries as Jones returned for a second spell.

The Whickham batsmen, Macintyer and Ruddick were still striking cleanly and hitting down the ground, and unfortunately for Morpeth the boundaries were not stopping as shots were either well placed or the fielding left something to be desired. After adding some much needed impetus to the scoring the partnership was broken with 35 runs added, as the star of the show, Craigs, bowled Macintyer for a good 93. This was the key breakthrough for Morpeth and precipitated a collapse for Whickham.

In his next over Craigs had Ruddick caught and bowled for 12 before then striking four balls later to have Eyes LBW for 1, to leaving Whickham struggling on 160 for five with 88 runs needed from just nine overs. While Jones was keeping it tight at the other end, Craigs pressed for his five-for to go with his earlier century, and he didn't have to wait long. His next over brought the wicket as Barnaby charged down the wicket to swoosh through thin air, and Clow behind the stumps did the necessary to effect the stumping. It was turning out to be quite a day for Craigs.

He finished it in style by having Campbell caught by Embley at point for 6 to finish with figures of 6 for 55. By this time the Whickham challenge had faded and they were content to try and bat out for maximum batting points and to deny Morpeth the last two bowling points. They entered the last over on 199 for seven, and Embley entered the fray. Embley managed to make the breakthrough, to win a fourth bowling point, by bowling Snell with an in swinging yorker. This was the final action of the game as Whickham closed on 209 for eight to leave Morpeth winners by 38 runs, and earning 19 points.

The Morpeth Second team continue their season next week at Longhirst Hall, when they entertain Percy Main who have also started the season in excellent form.

Chris Maxted

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