2nd XI - Morpeth Not Singing in Consett Rain
 

Morpeth second string travelled down to Consett looking to make it two maximum returns on the trot, and in the knowledge they had comfortably done the double over their opponents the previous season. Having lost the toss skipper Chris Maxted led his side out on what looked a decent batting track, on a gloriously sunny afternoon. The Consett opening pair got away to a bit of a flyer, but once openers Wright and Clark found their rhythm it suddenly became a very stale and dogged batting display by the home team. Wright beat the outside edge on numerous occasions and after seeing 2 edges fly through gully, a simple chance was put down at first slip and the opening pair continued to survive the new ball attack.

A double bowling change by skipper Maxted saw him introduce himself and off-spinner Kurran Dhugga, and it was this spin-swing combo which would run through the Consett batting line-up like a knife through hot butter. Both bowlers enjoyed lengthy spells of pressure, as they shared the top eight Consett wickets between them. Maxted bowled tight lines throughout and his late swing would trap three batsmen lbw, with a fourth mis-timing a drive to Dhugga at point. At the other end Dhugga enhanced his growing reputation as the second team’s premier spin bowler with four wickets utilising his variation with great reward. It was a huge boost for skipper Maxted to bowl with such discipline and restrict the home team to 157 from their allotted overs. Maxted was particularly unlucky to miss out on his 5-for in his final over as he squeezed the ball through only for it to clip the bottom of leg stump, only to see the bail jump up and settle again back on top of the wicket. Frustrating for the skipper to miss out on a deserved haul, but lucky that he was spared buying the beers after the game.

Morpeth were confident that the total posted by the hosts was about 20-30 runs short of a par score on a pitch which seemed to be playing quite well, and the trademark short boundary customary for so many of the Durham grounds. However, an exciting run chase was cut short after no less than six balls of the Morpeth innings as the infamous localised weather rolled in and saw Wailes and Scowell go out in virtual darkness at the start of their innings. The conditions were clearly testing for the batsmen and Wailes was trapped lbw after only three balls of the first over. Unfortunately he didn’t miss out on much as the heavens would open only minutes later and the players were forced off. After an hour or so the ground looked more reminiscent of Glastonbury than a cricket field, and the umpire was forced to call the game a draw. Morpeth were left disappointed to leave without the win, but maintained their unbeaten start to the campaign. Naturally, they returned back to Morpeth in glorious sunshine bemoaning the Consett conditions.
 

Man of the match: Chris Maxted

Match Report: Tom Wright

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