The Mogador Wanderers won their first game of the season yesterday and retained the Matthew Lewis Memorial Shield at the same time. On a simply stunning early Summer's afternoon, a huge crowd turned up at Merstham's Quality Street ground, marvelling at the new pavillion and tardis-like changing rooms, which offered considerably more space than the old ones. Fairclough fired up the BBQ, the large crowd rolled in and the Mogs won the toss and elected to bat first, a decision which was applauded by the Wanderers who were only too happy for Fairclough to keep churning out a steady supply of sausages and hamburgers.
Lee (26) and Parker (10) opened the batting and put on 35 runs in good order before both departed after good knocks. Honeyfield came in at 3 and soon started caressing the ball all over the place, though wickets were clattering the other end with Burton (0), Matt Brown (6) and Johnson (0) finding the swinging ball hard to cope with. Hewitt (20) and Honeyfield put on 50 with Jimmy the dominant batsman, hitting several huge straight 6's and a number of cuts and pulls seeing the Mogs score tick upwards.
Hewitt was out caught and bowled but the Mitchell Brothers, Grant (Andy) and Phil (Dave) gave Jimmy good support. The cabbie was out for a terrific 75 after a cut was well caught at point and when Fairclough (0) and Lewis (3) were triggered LBW by Merstham legend Dave Loader (currrently playing his 48th season of League cricket), the Mogs were all out for 200 in 35.3 overs.
A good tea allowed the Mogs players and families to catch up with the large number of friends who annually come to Merstham in order to remember Matthew and we took the field knowing that a good performance was required to register our first win of the season. Fortunately one of our bowlers stood up big time and it was Matthew's brother Joseph, who registered his best ever bowling analysis (6-44) for the Club as he decimated Merstham's top order in a magnificent display of swing bowling, surely his best for the Club. Using the Mertham slope and a stiff breeze which helped Joseph's away swinger, he claimed three wickets with balls that mitched middle and hit off, with Parker taking a straightforward catch and Johnson also holding on to a steepler (after a load of juggling). With Dave Tharp (1-31) also bowling well, Merstham were nowhere near our total at 70-7 but we then witnessed a magnificent display of power hitting my Merstham's number 7, which nearly salvaged a miracle win out of nowhere. "Lights on" was his nickname (I think he was a lightng engineer) and he hit anything straight very hard and a long, long way. Fairclough (0-23) was hit out of the attack and Hewitt (1-35) was also dismissed regularly but Andy Tharp picked up two good wickets and despite a tense few overs where almost every ball seemed to sail for 6, Tharpy took a good catch at deep midwicket to secure a good win for the Mogs.
Oscar presented the shield to Hewitt who thanked Merstham for a lovely match, which contributed £1000 in takings behind the bar and saw Matt remembered in the best way possible - a Mog win against his first team, in front of a large crowd under clear blue skies. Photos will be posted on our website shortly.
MWCC Stats