HOLMES & ASPINALL SET MORTON UP NICELY FOR WIN

MORTON COLLIERY CC 234 ALL OUT WALTON ON TRENT 177 FOR 9
DERBYSHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE DIVISION 2 @ BACK LANE
23 JUNE 2018 --- 1.30PM

MORTON COLLERY CRICKET CLUB READY FOR PLAY TO BEGIN

A century stand between John Aspinall and Morton captain Paul Holmes set up the home side nicely for a winning draw against their south Derbyshire visitors who kept a firm grip of the final wicket to deny the hosts an outright win.

HOLMES [L] AND ASPINALL RESCUE MORTON

Like that comfy armchair of non league football clubs that it is a pleasure to frequent it is added too in cricket terms by Morton Colliery it always feels like a return home and the comfy slippers are waiting, it had been too long this season but finally a short journey would allow me to re-acquaint with the old girl.


SCOREBOARD RE SITED SHOWS THE EARLY TROUBLE WITH KIERON MARSH ALSO IN THE PICTURE

The departure at The Corner Pin allowed for a brief walk along the sleepy weekend streets of this former mining village and now of course roundly credited with being the centre of England with a plaque at the base of a tree on Station Rd in the western side of Station Rd.  The brief walk was brought to a halt by a visiting player who asked directions to the ground and then kindly transported me the remaining quarter of a mile to the ground, cheers!

JOHN ASPINALL KEEPS THE SCORE MOVING

Previous visits and recordings have listed much about Morton so repeating them would serve no purpose save to say the club now has a 1st, 2nd and 3rd Xl alongside the younger sides much else remains in place the wonderful setting is only added to by this clubs excellent band of volunteers.  As per most sports teams and clubs the free time of the helpers keep them going and here at Back Lane its no different with the ever youthful grounds man Charlie Wright still overseeing all things pitch side and with Ken, John, Tony and a whole band of lady officials everything from scoring to snacks to the bar go like clockwork and of course are a credit to the club whose teas are famous around the circuit.

HOLMES IS OK ON THIS ONE DEFINITELY IN

Greetings aside and thank you there were many proceedings would get under way with Morton batting after losing the toss and being invited to take up the challenge and so it proved as they quickly slipped to 96 for 5.  Out strode captain Paul Holmes with a purpose to join the experienced John Aspinall who had started to steady the ship before Bair Mathews fell for 25.  The partnership of 104 certainly rescued Morton and the gentle endeavour of Aspinall [62] set up the foundations for the final total going along gently at first but then opening up as Holmes stepped on the gas.

CAPTAIN HOLMES RECEIVES THE APPLAUSE FOR HIS 79

Big hitting became the order of the day for Holmes who bludgeoned six 4's and four maximums in his total of 79 before being on the receiving end of a harsh umpiring decision, with bat down in the crease before the bails were dislodged a long think by the square leg umpire saw the finger raised.  The innings closed far more advanced than originally expected at 234 all out off the last ball of the 46 overs.

ITS THE WRIGHT TIME FOR CHARLIE

As Charlie Wright wandered out with brush and wheelbarrow in hand for a gentle sweep of the business area there was even time for a brief head scratch under the industrious sun hat of his it years have seen many players come and go.

ECONOMICAL SPELL FROM DAVID GREAVES

Suitably fed and watered the players returned and with Holmes and David Greaves opening up the Morton attack with expectations high by the time Walton reached 50 for the loss of just one wicket, a superb sharp catch from Jordan lemon, the home faithful had tamed their hopes a little.  The arrival of first change Tom Coxhead made the difference though and when Lemon took his second catch off of his bowling the visitors lost their second wicket at 50.  A steady flow of wickets followed and it became clear that Walton would need to hang on and so they did under the able stewardship of Edward Chapman [51] and Lewis Williams [4] who denied Morton that final wicket.  The introduction of Coxhead changed the game for Colliery he finished with 3 for 42 in 14 with four maidens added to by some economical bowling from opening bowler Greaves who sent down 8 overs returning 2 for 16.

PAUL HOLMES OPENS THE BOWLING

A points tally of a 19-11 in a winning draw for Morton who finished 57 runs ahead seemed a flat end to the afternoons toils but many local leagues have this deflating system.  Surely the leagues should look at this system a win is a win except when you don't bowl a side out who get nowhere near your total.

A SLIP CORDON OF HAW, LEMON, MARSH AND KEEPER STONE FOR MORTON

A pleasant return to Morton and with a thanks to ex Morton player Harry Wilmot's granddad for a lift back to base a comfortable return around 8pm allowed time for a small bit of watering.