Morgan finally hits century mark

Morgan, 24, who hit 98 not out the previous week when the Bitchburn team made a club record total of 333 runs against Wearmouth, said: "Last week I needed to score nine runs off the last over to get my century but only managed seven runs.

"Against Benwell Hill I needed seven runs off the last over to reach 100 and one off the last ball. Luckily I hit three and finally got my century. It's amazing really because before last Saturday's match I had never even hit a half century."

Morgan shared in second wicket partnership of 101 runs with skipper Graham Dunn as Bitchburn made 227 for three.

Dunn said: "As we travelled to the game it started to rain and we were all hoping the match would be called off because with seven men you can't really set a field. Even with 227 runs on the board we didn't think we had much of a chance. However, we bowled the fielded really well and Andrew also took three wickets for 13 runs in seven overs so he had an excellent all-round game."

The match with Benwell Hill threw up another interesting coincidence as Graham Dalton, who hit the second century of his career last week against Wearmouth, took a wicket with his first ball in that game. On Saturday against Benwell Hill he also took a wicket with his first ball.

Finally the mystery concerning the bus Bitchburn players changed in during the 1950s was solved on Sunday evening by John Snowdon, the former North Bitchburn, Bishop Auckland and County Durham batsman.

John said: "The bus came from Cockfield Motor Services and in 1956 my family took it from the cricket ground to their farm and used it as a henhouse. It was definitely a single decker bus and I should know because I collected enough eggs from it."

The seven local heroes who played on Saturday for North Bitchburn were Graham Dunn, Graham Dalton, Andrew Morgan, Raymond Snaith, Graham Lee, Ian Tennick and Nick Dalton.