A good Mogs XI arrived at Newdigate's pretty ground on a warm, sunny afternoon and skipper Hewitt had no hesitation on choosing to bat first. Having lost 2 games running, we were keen for a win but it became immediately obvious to openers Abbott & Furner that Newdigate's groundsman was probably the same that had produced the Ashes winning strip at The Oval. From the very first ball, the track misbehaved with length balls as likely to keep low as they were to rear up. Abbo (5) fenced one that popped before Furns (9) snicked one to slip. Fairclough (16) looked good before being bowled off the inside edge and Tharp (0) cut one straight to point. Not the most promising of starts.
Hewitt (23) looked in reasonable touch before getting hit in the chest from one that got up and then perished caught & bowled 2 balls later. 61-5 rapidly became 72 for 8 as Mossy (7) was bowled round his legs, Lee (0) was adjudged LBW by Fingers Hodge and Joseph (0) was bowled on the second bounce by their young leggy.
Jackson, playing his last game before heading home to the Far East) and Matt put on 25 for the 9th wicket before Stuart ran himself out. Matt & Parker put on the highest partnership (27) of our innings before Matt lots his off stump, with the Mogs all out for a poor 124.
A splendid tea galvanised the Mogs in front of an army of MWCC supporters with Abbott, Lewis, Hewitt & Tharp children all playing on the sidelines and a phalanx of players, Vice Presidents & other supporters all cheering us on (or were they cheering every wicket that fell at The Oval)
Lee (2-35) opened from the top end and quickly reduced our hosts to 23-2 via smart catches from Parker & Tharp. Matt (1-30) was bowling splendidly from the bottom end and, fuelled by half a dozen pints of amber nectar, bowled ripper after ripper with only 1 success. Newdigate's number 3 Mark Rance decided that the best form of defence was attack and whilst our hosts were 77-4, the scoreboard kept rattling along. Hewitt (0-19) replaced Lee but bowled 4 overs of total filth. Fairclough replaced Matt but could not find a length (or a line) and whilst Joseph replaced Hewitt and took 2 wickets via catches from Lee and his brother), the boundary count kept rattling along. Abbo (0-6) & Tharp (0-8) were bowling at the end and Newdigate deservedly won by 5 wickets.
The Mogs retired to the bar and awaiting Policeman Brown to administer the fines, which as usual created a lot of laughs and a good contribution to their local charity.
So we have lost 3 on the trot but we had fun against our friends at Newdigate and we will have to put in some great performances to even up the Win / Loss ratio by the end of the season.
MWCC Stats