The Mogador Wanderers finished their season in fine style with a confident win against our old friends Headley on a chilly, overcast Autumn afternoon. Black Velvet and roast chicken were consumed eagerly pre-match and the Mogs elected to bowl first on a wicket that looked like it would reward batsman and bowler alike in a 32 over game. A strong Mogs team saw Leigh Padfield & Jamie Freeland open up and the difference in pace was noticeable with young tyro Padfield bowling at close to 80mph and Freeland trundling in some 10mph slower. Both bowled a number of unplayable deliveries but the Headley openers put on a run a ball stand of 50 before Will Cooper was brought on and took out both openers courtesy of 2 catches at midwicket by Hewitt, one of which was the mirror of his one handed effort at Horsley three games previously. Cooper was sensational with his 6 overs going for just 7 runs and he also picked up a third wicket courtesy of a good catch by Fairclough at Deep Square Leg. Dr Joe Bason replaced Bimbo and bowled a splendid spell seeing the tall doctor snare his first 2 wickets for the club, both via Parker who kept magnificently throughout. The strangle was on and Hewitt struck twice via a great catch by Cooper at Long On and clean bowling Headley skipper Midmer with a straight bowl, which James decided to tray and reverse sweep. Tharp picked up the last of our 8 wickets via a Furner pouch at midwicket seeing Headley finish their 32 overs on a below par total.
A pepperoni pizza tea (surely a first) and hot mugs of tea were devoured and as the crowd built with the arrival of a phalanx of Headley & Mogador Presidents, Vice Presidents and friends, Tharp & Furner went out to try & secure victory against Headley for the first time since the last game of the season in 2008. Both batsmen played excellently and put on 51 for the first wicket before Furns was bowled & Tharpy holed out shortly afterwards. Toby Briggs hit 2 huge 6's as he tried to reach the victory target in as short a time as possible whilst Fairclough anchored our victory push, though not without a number of beautiful shots of his own. Briggs fell for 37, Burton for 1 but Hewitt & Fairclough got the Mogs to within 17 runs before both fell to poor shots. Freeland & Padfield finished the game off and as the Mogs took beer with our vanquished foe we bathed in the contented knowledge that we had reverser last season's more losses than wins. The only thing that could top off a great afternoon was a miracle at Medinah...
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