The Mogs nearly pulled off a remarkable win against our friends at Newdigate on a warm, sunny Summer's afternoon. Hewitt won the toss and elected to bat first on what looked to be a good wicket. Lewis & Fairclough opened the batting but Joseph was out to the 5th ball, caught behind off Ben Crook, who had been timed at 80mph in a league game earlier in the season. Hewitt joined Fairclough at the crease and with the memories of a 300 run partnership back in 2006 at this ground still available in their memories, they saw off the new ball before setting out an all out attack which realised 163 runs in 24 overs, Hewitt reached 108 - his 3rd ton of the season - and Fairclough 67 before Newdigate hit back, also dismissing Stevens (2). Our middle order of Tharp (33), Burton (22), Johnson (14*) and Parker (4*) all kept the scoreboard rattling along with Magic's consecutive 6's into the woods in the last over cheered by the huge Mog crowd / crèche that had built beside the pavilion as the Mogs declared on 271 for 6 off 42 overs, leaving us 39 overs to take 10 Newdigate wickets.
A splendid tea was served with 2 types of cheesecake available - surely a first? - along with warm sausage rolls, pork pie, melon and cheese & tuna sandwiches. We took to the field with Jamie Freeland available to bowl briefly whilst the Mog supporters tried to babysit Ims & Ben who were parentless at Long Off with Jen up in Yorkshire with her father, who is very poorly - the Club's sympathies go out to Jamie, Jen and her family during these tricky times. Whether Jamie was missing his wife or found his daughters use of a traffic cone as a loudspeaker offputting, but his short spell of 4 0 32 0 saw Jamie return to his children, who were promptly bundled into a car and returned home for an early night. This obviously left the Mogs with 10 players and I am a proud Dad, Godfather and Captain to confirm the debuts (albeit as substitute fielders) of Harry Hewitt, Oscar Lewis and Alfie Hewitt who fielded 30 overs between them at Long Leg and Deep Extra Cover. All 3 of them excelled in the field with huge enthusiasm, no mistakes and some excellent fielding. Well done to the three of you.
As Freeland left the field Tharp (1-47) took our first wicket via a terrific catch by "JD" Burton and our fielding throughout the game was outstanding with fantastic catches by Parker, Johnson & Stevens in particular. Lewis (1-32) took a well deserved wicket but it was Fairclough (4-62) who gave us the best chance of victory in a terrific spell which brilliantly mixed long hop with unplayable leg break. His first wicket was via a regulation catch by Tharp but his second was down to a magnificent catch by Parker, which also happened to be his 300th dismissal for the Club, which is a quite remarkable achievement - Colonel we salute you! The wickets kept tumbling with Fairclough picking up No's 3 & 4 and Stevens registering his first for a couple of years, Hewitt snared John Calcutt via a smart stumping by Parker and when James Brooker (Tharpy's step son) clean bowled their number 10 we had 4 overs to get the last wicket. James in particular bowled magnificently and he was quickly signed up by the Mogs hierarchy to play again as he bowled at real pace and also fielded beautifully.
Sadly the last wicket never materialised but the Mogs & the Newdigate players drank long into the night as did our wonderful supporters who turned up in force yet again - Alan & Pat, David, Charlie (get well soon mate) & Ali, Robert & Carol, Antony & Loretta, Alex Viv & Phil, Linda, Francesca, Emma and more Mog children than have ever seen before at a Mogs game - it really was a lovely sight and bodes well for many happy years to come. Last thanks goes to Briggsy for playing for us despite not batting or bowling and to Humph who scored as impeccably as always.
MWCC Stats