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The Civil Service put out a strong side on Monday for the game away to Monkseaton. Strangely, the weather had been belting hot when most people had left for the game but by the time it started a depressing sea mist had spread across the ground, leaving Miller and Mcgilvery looking foolish and cold in their summer shorts. Miller promptly lost the toss and his team were asked to field with only 9 men due to the lateness of Ferguson and Sattar.
Waite and McCarten opened the bowling with immediate success. Waite clean bowled the Monkseaton opener in his first over and had the no. 3 caught in his second. In between, McCarten lured their other opener into being caught at mid off. 3-3 looked a good start. Eventually, Sattar and Ferguson appeared, the former running from Monkseaton Metro at full pace to get ready only to be overtaken by an ambling Ferguson on the way to the changing room.
Both opening bowlers continued to bowl well, picking up one more wicket each before the end of their spells and leaving Monkseaton in some of its own outfield’s dog mess (and broken glass). One notable ball from McCarten reared off a length and smashed Scott in the face, only for the brave farmer to spit out his two front teeth and get on with the game without showing any pain.
They were replaced by Sattar and Halford who continued where the others had left off. Despite Monkseaton’s efforts to play a few shots, the two bowled well with Sattar picking up 3 wickets and Halford 2. A farcical run out for Monkseaton compounded their misery and The Civil Service were asked to chase 72 in their 14 overs for victory.
They began brightly with Mcgilvery and Ferguson maintain a strong run rate in the fading light until debutant Mcgilvery played on for 8. Scott joined him and soon began to show signs of his old self, the highlight of which was an all run 4 from a dropped catch that produced an angry overthrow. The next ball, Scott offered the fielder the same catch and this time he made no mistake with Scott departing for 15.
Ferguson was joined by Lord and they soon began to pick off the runs despite some close LBW calls, all turned down by Waite at umpire. Lord hit the winning runs and the crowd went wild with the Service winning by 8 wickets, Ferguson undefeated on 25 and Lord on 19.
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