The Mogs registered their first loss of the season yesterday and, worse still, also lost the inaugural Matthew Lewis Memorial Shield to Merstham.
Other than that it was a glorious day with unbelievable weather, a huge crowd (around 300 people throughout the day) and a good game played on a very sluggish pitch.
Our hosts allowed the Mogs to bat first, allowing Andy "The BBQ King " Tharp to continue a fine stint behind the barbie where he sold 100's of hot dogs and burgers throughout the day. Furner & Turner re-kindled memorioes of old by striding out to open up and all major nbookmakers had a run out inked in as a short odds favourite for the manner of the 1st dismissal. Both openers found the boundary but Furns went first, shortly followed by Tina and when Fairclough also misjudged the pace of the pitch (ie there was none) the Mogs were in truoble at 57-3. Hewitt joined Freeland at the crease with Jamie making batting look easie than anyone else had found it against a good, disciplined Merstham attack. The Mogs reached 100 but on came veteran legspinner Dave Loader who accounted for Hewitt 2nd ball after the skipper was stumped. The midle order continued to wobble with none of Lee, Brown, Tharp or Abbott able to dominate and the Mogs innings came to a premature end when Jamie holed out for a patient 51 and the Colonel was run out, leaving the Mogs all out for 163 - around 40 short of a competitive total.
Merstham produced a trademark quality tea though it was cold drinks for the players who were sweltering rather as the temperature nudged over 80. The outfield looked like Blackpool in peak season with 100s of spectatots jammed into the one area of shade and dozens of children playing cricket, football & catch on the boundary edge.
The Mogs knew that we had to make early inroads and both Joseph Lewis and Darrell Abbott snared a wicket, amongst some blazing boundaries. Hewitt struck with his 2nd ball, thanks to a splendid catch by Charlie at Deep Mid Wicket and Merstham were wobbling at 65-3 with all the momentum in the maroon camp. Home batsman (and occasional Mog) Dave Neal then hit Hewitt for a corruscating 6 which unfortunately landed plum on the forehead of one of the spectators and a 15 minute break in the game rather cost the Mogs the momentumn that they had built up whilst an ambulance was summoned. The boundary count was steady and our lack of runs on the board was always looking costly. Turner snared home captain Drewitt however, courtesy of a "roll back the years / I don't believe it" catch by Abbo at Long Off and when Dave Neal swept another one of Triggers pies into his own face he was also forced to hospital and Merstham were effectively 5 down.
The home team's middle order batted well and despite Freeland bowling a chuntering spell and Joseph coming back on and having a clear caught behind turned down (resulting in even the most mild mannered Mog offering some polite advice to the young batsmen who refused to walk) Merstham triumphed with 22 balls to spare.
Oscar Lewis presented Merstham with the winning trophy and 1 minutes applause allowed us to remember Matthew who would have loved every part of yesterday (apart from the result).
Hewitt
MWCC Stats