The well rested Mogs travelled to Leigh on a glorious summer's day. A pre match drink at the Seven Stars was well attended, and it was there that Steve Kelly advised that he was struggling with a hangover and dodgy stomach following an ill advised McDonalds en route to the game. The team arrived at the ground to be told that Mr Kelly had had a tactical release of his stomach contents to ready himself for the game.
The usual suspects for Leigh were conspicuous by their absence, and it was a much changed side that faced the Mogs. The toss was won by Alex, and having decided on a 35 over game, the Mogs decided to bat first. The length of the game was extended to 40 over's per side, and Messer's Furner and Honeyfield strode out to the middle to open the innings. Both batsmen played cautiously to begin with, gauging the pace and bounce of the wicket, before accelerating nicely with some well timed shots. At 10 over's the Mogs were 54-0, and Steve Kelly was now on his third visit to the bathroom, having also visited the rear of the pavilion.
The first wicket fell on 80, Jimmy Honeyfield on 32, mistiming a drive to be caught in the covers. This brought Mr Kelly to the crease, and he looked ion no mood to hang around, hitting a couple of fours almost straight away. Peter Furner was batting with a new stance and it seemed to work as he reached his first half century for the Mogs in a long time. No sooner had he reached this milestone when he was caught behind attempting a late cut. At 97-2 after 20 over's, a phase of rebuilding was required and Andy Tharp joined Steve Kelly and looked to consolidate the score. Steve Kelly had other ideas, as he was still struggling to keep his stomach contents down, and therefore decided to attack. He was especially hard on the Leigh spinner who he hit for 28 of 2 over's including a six that cleared the road and landed in the opposite field.
Andy Tharp was the next out for 32 four short of the hundred partnership, clean bowled by one that kept low, soon to be followed by Steve Kelly who could not continue and retired ill!! 196-3. Alex and Richard Moss continued to keep the scoreboard ticking over; Richard Moss was bowled for 9 in the 37th over (222-4) at which point the skipper decided to up the run rate by racing to his 50 off only 22 balls including 4 sixes off the unfortunate Leigh spinners first four balls of the final over!! At the end of the 40 over's the Mogs had amassed a total of 267-5
After a tea which was rated 6.5/10 (thanks Matt for helping prepare the tea for an injured Paul!!) the Mogs took the field. Darrell and Joseph opened the bowling, and the Leigh batsmen benefited from some looseners from the Mogs to race to 27 off 3.4 over's before Joe bowled a straight one and had the Leigh no2 clean bowled off the inside edge!! Leigh then progressed smoothly for the next 16 overs, although Matt did spill a relatively easy chance at fine leg, with neither Darrell or Joe, or Jeff and Alex able to get the breakthrough. Alex made his third change by bringing on Matthew who took a wicket in his first over, Richard moss taking a fine catch to dismiss the Leigh no3. Jimmy Honeyfield was brought on at the other end and he soon had the Leigh opener out for a well made 59 and Leigh were 87-3.
Matthew was in no mood to hang around and was soon bowling very tightly, and managed to take 2 further Leigh wickets including the Leigh skipper who was a tad upset to be adjudged LBW. Andy Tharp was brought on and bowled the no7 for no score, and it was left to Matthew to take the remaining three wickets to end up with figures of 6-24 off 10 over's, and to lead the Mogs to a 116 run victory.
A good game and we now look forward to Rottingdean in a fortnight's time.
MWCC Stats