At the kind invitation of the Chairman, David Martin, MOGS past and present once again braved the London to Brighton bike ride and headed down 'en famille' to the spectacular West Drove for what turned out to be an inspiring pre-match BBQ lunch.
After the scenic coastal road tour to Rottingdean listening to Owais Shah hit the New Zealand attack all around Chester Le Street, MOGS agreed a 35 overs game, won the toss and proceeded to do the same with Fairclough getting off the mark for the 'season' (Only 2nd game...) with a straight six off the left arm opener....
Fairclough and Furner set about the opening stand with rapier like cuts and drives piercing the field on a regular basis as they proceeded to set up a formidable platform for the rest of the team to build on... this before the former was harshly sent on his way by Colonel Parker having missed an attempted sweep from the wily Rottingdean first change for 48.... (Although he was then told that if they had appealed a few overs earlier he would also have been sent on his way by Keith.... )
Furns continued the good work but perished looking to increase the run rate for a well constructed 42 and then took great pleasure in mentioning that Fairclough's strike rate was only marginally higher.... (but then again Ben had deliberately farmed the strike....)
Tharpy and skipper Hewitt raised the tempo with some glee, both constructing excellent half centuries and many a ball disappearing into the surrounding long grasses before Andy was caught trying to put away one too many (now am I talking Cakes, Pies, Pints or Sixes.........) on the mid wicket boundary for exactly the same score as last year's corresponding fixture - 74.
A flurry of wickets in the last over meant that Darryl had to ''put his pads back on...'' rush out and face the hatrick ball which he proceeded to nonchalantly flick down to deep square leg for 3 and another red inker as per last year (There is one more simile but that would be too harsh on the individual concerned....)
Skipper Hewitt finished not out with an entertaining 63 and MOGS finished on a superb 255-5 including 9 sixes and 25 fours from there allotted overs.
After an excellent array of sandwiches, cake and fresh fruit, MOGS took to the field but Pilau (1hr sleep in 32 and rumours abound of Saturday nights activities) and Joseph could not find the breakthrough against the unorthodox openers who mixed some quality shots with some better suited to beach cricket in the Caribbean.... indeed the younger of the two played with a very straight bat and grew immeasurably in confidence as his innings progressed - Future MOGS take note!
With the run rate approaching 9 an over Hewitt turned to the vastly experienced Abbott and Briggs who both produced superb 7 over spells that not only broke the opening partnership but proceeded to strangle the Rottingdean run chase picking up 3 wickets in the process and seeing the best and worst in the art of catching by Fairclough!!
The fast bowling union turned up during the later part of the game as Tharp and Hewitt came on and proceeded to take advantage of the superb bowling by Abbott and Briggs finishing off the game and taking the last 7 wickets for 32 runs in 9 overs with an 'interesting mix' of swing. seam and spin bowling - On this occasion your author is subscribing to the above mentioned union...
All MOGS agree that this is a thoroughly enjoyable fixture at the home of Harvey's Sussex Bitter and your author for one believes it would actually be good to send a full side down, so maybe we need to schedule it so it does not coincide with the London To Brighton every year....
Thanks to George Burns for stepping in so that at least we had 10 players....
Thanks again to the David and Pippa for providing a wonderful BBQ and sending the team into battle with stomachs full and appetites sated - roll of the next one....
Report by Ben Fairclough
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