2nd XI - Seaton Burn to Ashes as Morpeth ‘Urn’ a Victory
 

Morpeth continued their promotion push away to Seaton Burn. The form has been questionable at times but with the return of Stuart (Mad Dog) Hills and Paul (Pockets) Jackson, Morpeth entered this fixture with renewed vigour.

Morpeth II’s have stopped tossing a coin. Chris Maxted just chooses what he wants to do and we all get on with it. On a putting green like wicket it was obvious that the ball would do the work and so the skipper put Seaton Burn in to bat first.

Ben Jones opened the bowling and started with a delivery straight from the Richard Embley book of cricket, the ball sailing over the batsman’s head and into the gloves of S Meikle without touching the deck. “No ball”. Then Jones decided that it was time for a wicket, bowling J Dixon for a duck. Odd start.

The next wicket fell shortly after again from the bowling of Jones. A sensational catch from Embley at mid-wicket. D Carr was the next to go, caught and bowled by S Hills opening the bowling a the other end. A mixture of deliveries from S Hills earned him 3 for 39. The slow ball doing exactly what it said on the tin but unfortunately not pitching on the track, back to the drawing board Hills.

Seaton Burn did not look convincing with the bat. Next it was the turn of P Jackson to join the wicket taking team, picking up his first and then second wicket for two years in club cricket. Dismissing R Carr and R Kirkwood with similar delivers swinging a mile to deceive the batsman into a shot only to be caught at mid-wicket by Paul (definitely had some dental work) Wonders.

R Embley continued the attack picking up 3 for 16 with some impressive variation and a tight line and length. Seaton Burn were bowled out for 143 with ten overs to spare.

It was tea time. We all dreamed of what the firsts would be getting at home at the hands of Mrs Forster, a mixture of subjects were discussed including the merits of facebook and boules with S Hills.

The message from the skipper was that we had let Seaton burn run to a reasonable total but with some concentration and patience Morpeth could expect a well deserved 20 points.

S Cowell who was suffering from some sort of avian flu gave up his opening spot to J Ingram joined by S Meikle. Everything looked perfect, Morpeth cruising needing only three an over but with less haste and more speed, J Ingram, J Forster and S Meikle gave away their wickets pretty cheaply trying to hit out and hit out quickly. P Wonder and P Jackson cleaned up the mess and knocked of the total with consummate ease both finishing on 25 not out.

Morpeth win by 6 wickets.

Man-of-the-match: It’s a tricky one today. R Embley with a good spell and tight figures. Lawrence “H Biscuit Ball” Brown had a shout with a six ball duck and figures of 0 for 26 off three overs, but for me its got to Paul (Action man) Jackson. A useful 25 not out with the bat and 2 for 31 with the ball, a Botham all round performance.

Next fixture is away to Greenside, 1.30pm start.

Richard Embley.

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