2nd XI - The Morpeth Revolution Spins its Way to Victory

As my old man used to say it never rains it pores. This has little to do with the fixture Morpeth 2nd Team had on Saturday away to Consett so I’ll get on shall I…

A tricky little ground to find especially when you are given directions by the vice-captain which include such things as “its just passed Tesco”, let me be the first to inform those of you who do not know, Consett definitely does not have a Tesco’s near the cricket pitch.

Never the less we made it and C Maxted the regular captain intentionally lost the toss on an ‘interesting’ wicket. Last course of Sunday dinner comes to mind.

Morpeth were put into bat, which seemed at the time like a good call from the Consett skipper A Waters. The sun could dry out the wicket the ball could do less for Consett’s innings.

Cowell and Kemsley flashed the willow first. Cowell (donning the usual multi-coloured swimming trunks under pristine cricket whites) and Killer Kill Kemsley nudged a partnership of 71 before Kemsley lost concentration and scooped a mediocre delivery to point.

As suspected Morpeth struggled with the run rate. L Brown and S Meikle added 27 and 47 respectively. This of course meant that Mr Meikle coughed up a quid fine for the missed half century, don’t blame the writer, rules are rules I’m afraid.

Morpeth trundled onto post 172 for 4 with the most effect bowling to mention, A Waters who picked up two wickets for 39 runs from thirteen overs.

It was teatime, as we were away from home we did not have the luxury of Mrs Forster’s culinary skills. Consett tea gets a very average 5/10.

Not a huge total to protect so Morpeth’s bowlers were up against it. Ben Jones and Jack (attack attack) Clark commenced the Consett innings. A slow but tight start on the wicket taking front, Consett set a similar pace to Morpeth with the bat, which seemed to set things up for a tight finish. Embley and Jones picked up the two break through wickets as Consett stood at 48 for 2.

Enter the spinners. It’s that man Lawrence “HB Coconut macaroon” Biscuit Brown again with the addition of Jamie “Forstrell” Forster as the bowling twosome. Loz and Foz went to town, picking up 4 for 10 and 4 for 32, turning the game on its head from a photo finish to a skittle show. Excellent lads, excellent. Consett were all bowled out for 118 with the highest scorer M Jones with 19 runs.

Men-of-the-match: It’s a tie, I think you know who.

Richard Embley.

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