After the dis-appointment of the wash out and wasted journey down to the Hampshire Hogs the previous weekend, the sun shone brightly as MOGS returned to Headley for the first of this year's fixtures against there oldest foe....
Darrell assumed the captaincy of a team that did not feature the names Hewitt, Tharp or Lewis (when was the last time that happenend....) but were however able to have the pleasure of welcoming back Stuart 'Action' Jackson from Hong Kong for the first game of a 3 week tour.....
The day did not start well with the failure of the author to arrive for a 1.30pm start in August.... even more so considering he had the match ball / scorebook and club flag.... Darrell then called incorrectly meaning that the MOGS were sent out to field under the hot Headley sun where Darrell informed the MOGS that a new local rule had been enforced by the National Trust.
Apparently, a visitor had been hit towards the end of the previous season near the old tea hut next to the NT car park. The tea hut has now been moved some 40 meters back but as erecting any type of netting / fencing was out of the question, a compromise was reached that if the ball was hit over the road it was to be awarded 4 runs instead of 6 thus discouraging the batsmen from hitting the ball in the air over the road as they would not be fully rewarded for the shot.... (Health and Safety..........)
Charlie ' Bruce' Lee was given the new ball and it immediately paid dividends however as Headley's captain - J.Midmer chipped the 4th ball of the day to mid-on when debutant Mike Johnson pouched the chance.
The author arrived.... the new ball was taken and Headley proceeded to keep chipping the ball (the pitch misbehaving all day..... )tantilisingly out of reach of the MOGS fielders....
Lee soon struck again though as Headley's other opener fell to a smart diving catch from the youthful Colonel Parker.... (24-2)
It soon became clear that this Headley side were younger, keener and stronger than past years and the batsmen took the game to the MOGS bowlers. Honeyfield toiled without success from the car park end whilst Lee (when he controlled the swinging ball) caused problems for the batsmen / when he did'nt he caused problems for Will!
Indeed just as Headley seemed to be getting away scoring at over 5 runs an over Charlie induced a repeat of the first wicket - as Simmonds also chipped to Johnson. (86-3)
Darrell brought himself into the attack, professing to be bowling to a 'plan' and then promptly fed the areas where he had moved his fielders away from... Indeed it was a shock on 2 fronts when Pickering hit to mid-off to fall for a solid 56. 1. it went near a fielder & 2. Honeyfield caught it without using his hands.... (112-4)
MOGS bowling continued to be put under pressure and Darrell turned to Fairclough - not seen bowling since the tour to Menorca the previous year - who proceeded to produce a Warne-like display of classic leg-spin... with a few full bungers, half trackers and miracle balls all thrown in together...
In conjunction with Stevens MOGS began to assert some pressure and were rewarded when Fairclough enticed W. Midmer and Bassi down the track, bowling the former and allowing Colonel Parker to completely demolish the stumps of the later, before bamboozling the old enemy - Grant Waller - in the flight who hit high to cover for Moss to take a safe catch.
181 - 7 and Darrell encourged the MOGS onwards by saying that 250 was usually a par score...we should be able to knock them over for less than that...
However Headley were not in the mood to roll over and plundered 67 from the last 7 overs. Fairclough took a deserved 4th wicket bowling the senior Pickering for 53 to finish with 4-51 but Headley declared on 248-8 having practically reached the par score Darrell had mentioned 20 minutes earlier - commentators curse Abbo?????
There was even time for Johnson to shell a jug evading catch of the last ball of the innings to deny Honeyfield a deserved wicket!
A fine tea followed including hot pizza / sausages and sausage rolls and with Stuart Jackson jibbing the opportunity to open, Fairclough joined the little maestro, Furner - on his return from a broken thumb - and things started fairly comfortably as 5 were taken off each of the first 2 overs...
Then disaster struck in the next 2 overs as Furner chased a wide one and was well caught at first slip, Richard Moss received a shocking decision as he was sent on his way with the ball clearly missing another leg stump and then Fairclough also sent on his way Ravi Bopara style with a clear inside edge that had the fielders agreeing that he had hit the ball but no reprieve being offered. (15-3)
Slow progress was made as Johnson and Jackson tried to repair the damage. Headley clearly wanted the win to continue there good season, that to date had yielded just one Sunday defeat all season and appeals were numerous prompting comments from the watching MOGS...
Spin twins Pickering and Midmer replaced the medium pace of Clarke and Elburn to encourage MOGS to attack... and it soon paid dividends:
Johnson - looking unsure of the pitch to begin with, grew into his stride only to edge an attempted cut to be gobbled up by the first slip for 10. Stevens (11) launched Midmer half way to Leatherhead before playing catch with the opposition and eventually succumbing to a 3rd slip catch of the day as Pickering 'ripped' a 'leggie' off the pitch.
Jackson meanwhile started to raise hopes as he rolled back the years depositing both the spinners for a maximum but with 50 in his sights a shooter saw an inside edge knock back the leg stump and Action began the slow walk back to the pavilion for a fine 49 - a welcome return!
Lee / Abbott and Parker came and went and despite some lusty blows from Honeyfield at the end - Mogs subsided meekly to a heavy defeat. Bring on the Black Velvets and the return at the end of September....
MOGS next travel to there international opponents at Ditching where your author despite his Warne Like performance will be keeping!!!!
Report by: Face Man
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