<p>The Mogador's flagship fixture at Reigate Priory was always going to be a memorable occasion, not just for the outpouring of collective affection for Peter Martin at his 70th birthday celebration, but also for the expected backlash from a Priory side smarting from a rare defeat at our hands last year.</p>
<p>The day commenced in spectacular fasion with a pitchside marquee containing a star studded line-up of Mog legends. Ward, Brook, Southgate, Fawcus, Hollis, Hewitt, Rice, Elsdon-Dew,Barnes, Foster, Whitehurst, Jackson, Martin, Martin, Martin and Martin (to name but a few) mingled with their delightful wives, girlfriends, concubines and attendants. Could the callow youths of the playing XI handle the pressure of performing in front of such hallowed company? Could they maintain their equilibrium after four glasses of pimms, 3kg of coronation chicken and a glass or two of Chardonnay?</p>
<p>The tension was palpable as the Mogs took the field, and following the double pasting of our esteemed hosts last year there was as steely look in their opening batsmen's eyes. Early exchanges were understandably muted as Freeland and Abbot struggled to digest a rather heavily mayonaised pasta salad, but an increase in pace was recorded by the 3rd over where Freeland finally obtained some lift. The resulting bouncer was hooked one bounce into his opening partner's chin at fine leg, and Abbot was forced to spend the rest of the innings clutching an ice pack to an ugly wound, leading to some unfortunate collateral beard frosting.</p>
<p>Having whizzed balls passed the bat a few times (and over the boundary ropes a few more) the opening pair gave way to the more artistic skills of Lewis J and Honeyfield. The former struck first ball with a picture perfect outswinger that caught the edge and thudded with reassuring certainty into the hands of Tharpe at slip. Two overs later Lewis J unleashed the dreaded (by most Mog fielders) slow off-break that was hit like lazer bolt to Freeland at cover point who took a diving catch to his left.</p>
<p>Unfortunately most of the crowd missed this spectacular incident as they were attending to the prone figure of the Captain's mother who had been flattened the ball before by a coruscating dive from 'Action' Jackson. Displaying his usual Kamikaze-like commitment, and urged on by the crowd, Action had not given up the chase until the ball was well into the marquee, unfortunately collecting the elegant Mrs Hewitt senior on the way, who we are pleased to say survived the incident relatively unscathed. How Jackson retained his batting position at the top of the order was regarded as a minor Mog miracle.</p>
<p>Back to the cricket, and honours were relatively even with Priory 79-2 off 20 overs. However the balance gradually swung their way as 1st XI batsman Matt Bennett and a lavishly talented 13 year old test prospect played our senior spinners with unaccustomed ease. This particularly grated on Lewis M's legendary bowling patience, and when his brother dropped Bennett at mid off, actual sparks could be seen crackling around the visage of the Mog's octuple bowling award winner.</p>
<p>Meantime Hewitt was keeping things tight at the Blue Anchor inn, apart from the occasional 20 run over (despite the 5 fielders in the arc from square leg to long on being arranged in various star constellation formations - the plough being least effective) and only a spectacular catch diving full length, one-handed, inches from the ground by Tharp from Lewis could interrupt the host's majestic progress.</p>
<p>Apart from a snap declaration at 204-4 ! Mmm, bold move...</p>
<p>So, lady-killer Jackson and bucket-hands Tharp strode out to bat after the usual leisurely Reigate Priory tea (with high oily-fish content - good for concentration apparently...) to chase what seemed an exceptionally unchallenging target for the Mog's powerhouse batting line-up. 6 ft 6 inch Mendis junior posed problems with good pace and bounce from the marquee end, but Tharp proceeded to cut and dab him to distraction including a nicely judged lofted catch to deep mid third man, casually breaking the young bowler's spirit. Jackson meanwhile offset the near psychotic aggression of his fielding performance with a sedate and elegant innings reminiscent of the young David Gower, with a couple of on-drives hitting the heights of Mog batsmanship and the reassuring figure of his umpiring father no doubt adding to the impression of complete invulnerability (at least from the pavilion end).</p>
<p>Whilst Tharp perished unluckily just short of a deserved half century, Jackson pushed on to a beautifully crafted 50 and was joined by the robust Fairclough who continued to exhibit the virtues of solidity and shot selection so treasured by clubs other than the Mogador Wanderers. However on this occasion, and in this setting, their partnership was as exhilarating as any 10 over thrash-fest, and by the time the 20 overs mark ticked by, a comfortable 88 was required with 9 wickets in hand.</p>
<p>This was the moment that apocalyptic-looking clouds decided to jettison a fantastic amount of water in a short space of time over Reigate, and gloomy predictions were made of another hour in the well stocked bar. However, efficient covers and sudden sunshine prevailed, and the Mogs were out again within 45 minutes, facing the target but now from only 12.5 overs (under the Jackson/Lewis system).</p>
<p>Fairclough capitalized on his stylish innings for 1 ball before having his off stump ejected by a full length delivery, which brought Hewitt A. to the crease, and we all well know what to expect when this happens. Sure enough the ball began to fly around Priory's glistening outfield at fantastic speeds, and with the host's 13 year old future test star reduced to mid-pubescent tears by Hewitt's magnificent driving power, the target was cut down like a New Labour unemployment statistic.</p>
<p>Unfortunately for the Priory, this figure was all too real, and in the third to last over Hewitt thrillingly lifted the first six of the innings over the sight screen to reach his fifty and secure a comfortable victory for the Mogs.</p>
<p>The victory was dedicated of course to the Mog's remarkable man of 7 decades 'Major' Peter Martin, who doled out congratulations and commiserations to both sides with customary charm and diplomacy. Meanwhile the players enjoyed more than a couple of drinks in the the Priory pavilion, before retreating to their spiritual home of Eastern culinary delights, the Golden Curry, Bell Street. Undeterred by a fellow diner who appeared to have been rendered unconscious by a rather spicy Madras, they feasted on Mr Ahmed's tasty dishes (mainly Balti with a distinct Goan influence) and reminisced over this and many other famous victories, which, without the Peter Martin, would never have been possible.</p>
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