And so on to South Nutfield on another balmy afternoon in September. For the second week running our hosts asked for a 40 over match and we won the toss, and, on this occasion our skip decided to mention it to the openers....
Out strode the poetically titled duo of Furner and Turner on what looked a good wicket. The opening attack was solid and it took a few overs for our rhyming couplet to find their feet. Just as it looked like they were about to cut loose, Mr. Reliable was caught in the slips to an uncharacteristic waft outside off stump, 21-1.
This brought to the crease Hewitt with the usual weight of expectation as a result of his batting exploits this season. However after a solid first ball forward defence, he was comprehensively bowled neck and crop by the next. If only the South Nutfield team had known of the magnitude of this event...
But much like the Arsenal side of today, there is great strength in depth and team spirit. When Henry fails there's Reyes and with Hewitt's duck, came Toby Briggs. With Turner batting with the aplomb of a right-handed Gower, it was time for the Toby and "Leviathan" show.
Leviathan, for those not in the know, is Lewis. M's extraordinarily named and decorated bat. A bat that prior to this game had seen very little action but always raises a smile when pulled out in the changing room. Such is the power of this bat that JK Rowling has asked to borrow it in her next Harry Potter spectacular.
Not even little Harry could conjure up such mercurial and swashbuckling magic, as Toby plundered the home side's attack, with his first 5 scoring shots all creamed for 4. Six more 4's and three 6's followed in swift succession as Briggs eased past Turner to be first to 50. He then fell for 74 in somewhat controversial fashion.
As he hooked the ball towards the boundary for another 6, the fielder got round in time to hold the catch but where were his feet? With no rope between the flags and no Sky replay to dissect, it was left to examine the statuesque stance of the fielder and combined rusty knowledge of the rules. After a good few minutes the surprising result of "out" was given and Toby trudged back to the pavilion. Even the South Nutfield side were somewhat surprised.
Turner took this as his cue and began to cut loose after reaching a finely crafted 50, this newfound aggression included 22 from one over. Toby's departure brought to the crease D.Martin and he immediately joined the party with a 6 from his first scoring shot. The fireworks continued as the boundary was breached with regularity. Martin finally succumbed for a powerful 32, bringing Tharp to the wicket.
Not surprisingly more of the same followed as the Mogs looked to post a commanding total. As Tharp flat-batted his way through the attack, Turner reached a magnificent 100 that proved to be the lynchpin of the innings. Tharp finally fell for a sumptuous 46 and Turner finished on a superb 107 n.o. Although he did managed to defend the final 2 balls of the innings for 0, apparently due to "muscular problems". We finished 280 for 5 off 40 - a testing total for any side to chase.
Tea had become an ever more commented upon aspect of this season's games with almost every venue stepping up to the plate and delivering. Each striving to offer something a little bit different and the very friendly and buxom lady i/c of teas at South Nutfield didn't disappoint. 2 different quiches, roast beef rolls and her unique piece de resistance, ice-lollies were all met with great joy.
And so to the field - whilst it was a great score, we were not counting any chickens and were aware that on a relatively small pitch anything could be possible. Messers Honeyfield and K.Briggs took the new cherry, with the former working up a head of pace and the later performing his usual seam sorcery.
It was Briggs who inflicted the initial damage with a Yorker that had the batsman beaten and out LBW. It was soon 9 - 2 when Honeyfield then dismissed the other opener for 0 caught down the leg side - Not the start the home side would have been looking for.
A near 50 partnership was then formed but well below the asking rate and soon the net was tightened when the wily spin of Lewis.M went to work and bowled the no.3. At the other end Tharpy was on and swinging away like a liberated couple from Surbiton, picking up 2 fine clean-bowled wickets. Lewis picked up another wicket with a well taken stumping by Parker and at 73-5, Nutfield were in some trouble - a good looking top order out and well behind the asking rate.
Turner had bolstered the side with his friend, Ben "Scampi" Grave and after 3 years of no cricket, he joined the attack. Initially he did take some stick from a small middle order rally but finally reaped his reward with a well-taken catch by T.Briggs. Lewis then out thought the resistance with a quicker one to claim a well-deserved 3rd wicket.
The final writes were then read by Hewitt taking a firmly struck caught and bowled and K.Briggs with a skier taken by Honeyfield. A good all-round performance left South Nutfield all out for 169 and a fine victory for the Mogs by 111 runs.
A fine array of Mogs supporters had built up during the day, including the lovely new arrival to Susie and Richard, Emily - many congratulations to them both. All stayed after the game to enjoy a well-earned drink on a lovely evening.
MWCC Stats