The Mogador Wanderers secured a comprehensive victory by 155 runs yesterday on a bright afternoon at the top of Leith Hill. All 11 Wanderers met at The Plough and took on a goodly supply of Crooked Furrow ale, more in preparation for the drive up to the ground as anything else. The word road is no longer really applicable for Coldharbour's ground and even calling it a track is optimistic. The 4 x 4 owners amongst us were spotted checking that their AA Roadside was in date, but we all managed to get up there just about and upon arrival, we won the toss and elected to bat first on a pitch showing no real signs of wear and tear from the recent deluges. Nobody except the most optimistic punter would have wagered that Reigate Priory old boys Dave Tharp and Rob Wood would open the batting, but open they did and they put on a splendid partnership of 120. Both batsmen mixed stout defense with cavalier attack and both batsmen made excellent half centuries. Dave holed out after making 50 and although Dave Stevens, freshly back from a stint of football & rugby coaching in Africa, fell second ball, Mossy avoided the prospect of a collapse with a composed 29, which featured some rapier like sweeping. Richard departed, as did Rob for a top scoring 73 but Matt Brown (8), Tharp (26) and Hewitt (22) kept the momentum going, but gifting their wickets away. At 220-7 the Mogs were in danger of a below par score, but Graham Spring walked in at Number 9, having not played for us since the 11th May 1997 against his Alma Mater, Old Whitgiftians. Graham played the innings of the day with a ferocious 58 not out that saw the ball smeared to all corners, resulting in a "gathering in of children" by concerned mothers up on the hill. Joseph hit the straightest 6 of the day and we declared at 298-9, eager to sample a most promising tea that had been assembled by not 1, not 2, but 3 Coldharbour tea ladies.
We were not disappointed - Cheese & pickle, tuna sandwiches, egg mayo & cress roles, pork pie, on the vine tomatoes, cheese straws, jam tarts & fresh cake were all lovingly consumed and the Mogs took the field determined to avenge last year's draw, when we had been unable to prise out the last wicket. Joseph opened the bowling from the Peter Rice / Bracken-gate end and after 5 balls the score was 20-0 but Joseph had the last laugh when Dave Tharp took a smart catch in the gully. Charlie bowled with pace from the Gatwick end and he also took a wicket with the off stump of the other opener being knocked backwards. Graham bowled some fizzing darts which saw him pick up 2 wickets and Hewitt bowled some Major-like slow off spinners which also saw 2 wickets fall. Coldharbour's captain Andy and the blue-hatted Clive (playing his 50th season for the Club) delayed victory but Stevens took out their Captain with the most effective delivery possible on a Sunday afternoon - a straight ball, which bounced twice before hitting the batsman's shins. Stevens appealed like a Sri Lankan slip fielder and Umpire Tharp slowly raised the ginger of doom, prompting an outpourring of joy from the bowler, which was likened to that of a 10 year old finding out that he had been given a Scalextric set for Christmas - great stuff. Tharpy picked up the last 2 and we easily consumed all of our hosts beer supplies after the game, with the midges forcing us back down Coldharbour's Hill of Death to The Plough, where it had all started some 7 hours before.
Thank you to Peter Tharp for umpiring, Allan Lewis for scoring and all of the Mogs supporters for cheering us on.
Hewitt
MWCC Stats