The Mogs were pleased to play their first full game of the season, even if a strong northeasterly ensured that the full compliment of shirts & jumpers were essential. The sun did shine sporadically and Ockley's ground looked as lovely as ever.
Having won the toss, Ockley opted to bat first on a slow but even pitch. Darrell Abbott & Keith Briggs opened the bowling for MWCC and Briggs was the first to strike with two wickets in four balls (both bowled) seeing off Ockley's No's 1 & 3. After 17 overs Ockley were 25-2 and even the introduction of Peter Martin, bowling with the wind behind, did little to speed up the run scoring. Johnny Parker however, replacing Briggs from the pavilion end, immediately got reward with his slow-medium "wobblers" and claimed three wickets in a disciplined 9 over spell, the best of which being a great catch from Andy Tharpe at 1st slip. The Mogs fielding was mostly excellent, with skipper Alex Hewitt, having found his throwing arm after a 5 year absence, testing the stitching on keeper William Parker's gloves with a series of powerful returns. Johnny was replaced ("lack of oxygen skip") by Matt Lewis, who chipped in with two wickets at the pavilion end. Abbott, returning at the top end, found the going tougher in his second spell as Ockley increased the tempo, finally finishing with 133-7 from 45 overs.
After an excellent tea (gallons of hot tea were drunk!), the Mogs went out to bat with openers Alex Hewitt & Andy Tharpe hoping to get the side off to a speedy start - umpire Jackson was particularly worried that frostbite might set in if we were still playing at 7.40pm! Both batsmen quickly found their eye, with Hewitt mostly driving and Tharpe pulling (first time for everything Mr Tharpe!) and the 50 came up in the 7th over. Hewitt reached his 50 with a towering six over long off, amidst an over that cost Ockley's spinner 24 runs, but was bowled next over for 68 with the score at 93. David Martin came in at three and he and Tharpe knocked off the remaining runs without alarm, with Tharpe reaching his 50 (53*) off the penultimate ball of the match. The Mogs won by 9 wickets, having knocked off the required runs in just 16 overs.
The Mogs and their supporters (Stuart Jackson & Gail, the Parker family, Robert Hewitt etc.) enjoyed a number of pints in Ockley's pavilion whilst Johnny Parker organised a small photo-shoot outside for the website's "Player Profile" section, which should be up and running in the next week or two. The physical similarities (never seen before) between William Parker and Andy Tharpe were extraordinary!
Report by: Hewitt
MWCC Stats