MORTON DOMINANT IN TROPHY FINAL

MORTON COLLIERY CC 73 FOR 2 SOUTH WINGFIELD CC 70 ALL OUT

MARSTON'S 61 DEEP TROPHY FINAL AT QUEENS PARK

28 AUGUST 2023 --- 1PM

MORTON COLLIERY CRICKET CLUB MARSTONS 61 DEEP TROPHY WINNERS 2023

Morton retained the Marston's 61 Deep Trophy with an overwhelming victory against near neighbours South Wingfield with an 8 wicket margin  that saw the game come to its conclusion just before half past four.  With a tight and devastating bowling display they dismissed South Wingfield for a disappointing 70, supported by a fifer for the sponsors man of the match David Greaves and after a tea interval the loss of Alexander Eyre could not stop Paul Holmes [46] guiding Morton Colliery to a glorious victory.

AWAIS SHABBIR STEAMS IN FROM THE PAVILION END AT QUEENS PARK

A trip to the Queens Park Chesterfield a glorious setting on a nice day and thankfully we had that today unfortunately the afternoon was constantly supported by the loud music from the Bank Holiday Monday fair adjacent to the pitch making this more like a 20/20 than a 40 over final.  Still that aside we settled in a quiet area of the ground to enjoy as did a very healthy crowd who also supported this event and as the organiser said cricket itself.

South Wingfield won the toss and elected to bat and shortly afterwards at 12/3 must have regretted their decision with the clash in pace between Awais Shabbir and Blair Mathews they seemed to have the opposition in a mess.  It was Mathews who did the damage removing three of the top order, Kyle Mitchell [1] caught at long on by Jack Maltby, Liam Mitchell [0] grabbed at slip by Ritesh Bhatkal and Arend Gagiano [1] skying to Greaves.  Caution clearly needed to be the call of the day and new batsman Chris Hemp [17] joined Andrew Wilson [27] and they proceeded along in steady fashion until the former went having his bails removed by first change at the lake end Greaves to the first ball of the eighteenth over.

BRAD CLARKE FROM THE PAVILION END 

Two balls later and Bhatkal was alert again at slip after Greaves found the edge of the bat of Steven Wilson who was sent back without troubling the scorers and South Wingfield were in big trouble at 53/5.

Surely they would get some respite, sadly for their cause not as Morton remained relentless.  Brad Clarke had come on at the pavilion end and Maltby was on hand again to reach forward to take the lofted shot from Ahmad Bashir [1] with just three more runs added since the last wicket fell.

DAVID GREAVES ON HIS WAY BACK TO HIS DELIVERY MARK

The first ball of the twentieth over saw stalwart opener Wilson [A] run out with a superb throw from Holmes and South Wingfield had failed to add to the score and lost their batsman who could have batted the side through their overs.

The agony wasn't to last for long now with both Corey Whittingham [4] and Sam Rosling [3] bowled by Greaves before he trapped Lewis Radford lbw for no score.  With the total on 70 South Wingfield had nearly fourteen overs still to receive but this had been a performance in a final that Morton could probably only have dreamed about.

Morton saw their bowlers return figures of 5 for 15 off 5.2 for Greaves, Mathews 3 for 14 off eight, Clarke 1 for 18 off 7 and Shabbir 0 for 20 off his half a dozen overs, a great team effort.

PAUL HOLMES MAKES IT CLEAR HE IS NOT RUNNING FOR THIS ONE

With a half an hour tea interval there was time to collect some savouries from the nearby M and S and prepare for the Morton response and just wonder if this was going too be hard going.

PAUL HOLMES DUCKS OUT OF THE WAY OF A SHORT BALL

And yes you did have those doubts magnified when Alexander fell for a duck with the third ball of the second over caught by Hamp off Radford and it was thoughts of the collapse South Wingfield suffered that must have been in the forefront of the Morton players minds now.

There was little need to worry though as Jack Stone [6*] ably supported Paul Holmes [46] top scorer on the day and top scorer in the tournament.  Holmes performed a master class of defence and attack at the right time and it was a controlled innings that got Morton over the line the only sad element was with three needed to win Holmes going for his fifty was bowled by Mitchell [K].

It was left for Bhatkal to hit the winning four to secure a fantastic eight wicket victory for Morton Colliery Cricket Club off just 14.2 overs.

PAUL HOLMES ALL THE FUN OF THE FAIR WITH HIS MATCH WINNING SCORE

The end of match ceremony was performed by league officials with thanks given to many of the people who made this event a success from tea ladies to both sides scorers and to Chesterfield CC for hosting this final at their well appointed ground. 

BHATKAL AND STONES RETURN AFTER THE FORMER HIT THE WINNING BOUNDARY

The Marstons man of the match was selected by the umpires and went to David Greaves for his five wicket haul before runners up medals were awarded to the South Wingfield side who received a warm applause for their efforts.

All that was left was for Morton Colliery captain Jack Stone to lift aloft the Marston's sponsored trophy and the team could celebrate with I guess the odd glass of mineral water.

DAVID GREAVES WITH HIS MAN OF THE MATCH AWARD

A nice little afternoon out in Queens Park and with credit to all players for the afternoon special mention has gone to Greaves for his outstanding efforts but also Mathews with his dismissal of the top three must take special place in this performance ably backed up by his fellow opening bowler Shabbir.  Running that award a very close second must have been Holmes who with that superb run out provided a vital wicket in the middle of the South Wingfield innings and of course his batting got Morton to the victory line. 

MORTON COLLIERY CAPTAIN RECEIVES THE MARSTON TROPHY