The Mogs arrived at Oxted to be welcomed by the annual beer festival in full flow. Almost instantaneously minds were diverted from how many runs we could score to how may beers we could drink. Unfortunately for the Mogs, Oxted elected to bat first...clearly so that they could enjoy the beer festival whilst the Mogs slaved away in the afternoon heat.
Lewis and Brooker, both coming off the back of exceptional figures last week at the Pilgrims opened up the bowling for the Mogs. Much to Joe's discontent it was James that found the early breakthrough, dismissing their number 2 batsman via a regulation slip catch by skipper Hewitt. It must be said that Joe tried his best to make Alex drop the catch, shouting rather offputtingly 'CATCH IT!!!' Joe was unlucky not to amass any wickets during his mammoth spell...rumour has it that Oxted's batsmen were unaware as to whether he was bowing, and I quote 'away swingers, in swingers or off cutters.' (One of said batsmen going on to make a century, he can't have been in that much trouble). It was more of a shock to the Mogs that Joe himself knew what deliveries he was bowling. A change of bowling at the Mr Whippy end saw debutant Ollie Bunn introduced to the attack. However, during his third over, Alex's eyes sparked as he saw something in the pitch and another change in the bowling was made. The change was justified as Alex went on to pick up three wickets, two of which coming from great catches taken by young Ollie and Joe. The final wicket of the day for the Mogs came off the bowing of Dave Stevens and Oxted declared on 224-4. Tea was taken with the Mogs in high spirits, believing that the target was perhaps within their grasp...
Having contributed so little with his bowling effort that it was stricken from the record, Charlie Lee went out to open up the batting along with Ollie Jago. With Charlie so desperate to aid the Mog's batting effort, he kindly got himself ran out on the 6th ball of the first over for the grand total of 0. Jago was unlucky to fall soon after, trying to hit what could only be described as a 'genuine pie' into the next century, caught at mid on. A brief cameo by JD was ended when he slashed a wide one to the point fielder. The Mogs run chase fell into the hands of Hewitt and Stevens, who both got off to good starts, carting the Oxted bowlers to all parts of the pitch. Unfortunately Dave fell for 29 and Hewitt for 30, at this point in time the Mogador Wanderer's eyes turned once again from the cricket to the beer festival as victory looked out of sight. Jackson and Parker both fell for 0 and Brooker was lucky not to follow, being dropped first ball by the Oxted keeper, who should perhaps take more time to work on his keeping skills and less on his terrible chat from behind the pegs. Young Ollie scored a quick 10 before falling to a horrible spinning daisy cutter. (If you're reading this Ollie, I'd like to take the time to inform you that you owe me a pint for stopping my straight drive going for four).
The end was nigh for the Mogs batting line up...True to form, Joe came into bat with the opinion that he could hit every ball for 6. Having launched one ball for 4, not quite a 6, he was dismissed trying to play the same shot again (just because you hit one 4 doesn't mean you can hit every ball for 4 Joe). Young Harry Hewitt was last to the crease (on debit), his first shot a beautiful cover drive followed by a whip off his legs through midwicket. With the mind set of 'I don't want to be shown up by a kid half my age', James joined Harry on the cover drive bandwagon, dispatching 'Mr 6-fer' for 4. The Mogs innings came to a close when Harry was dismissed, leaving the Mogs 104 runs short.
Everyone, except for Charlie, can take positives away from the game and into the match against the Priory on Thursday when I'm sure we'll be back to winning ways.
"Nothing ever tasted better than a cold beer on a beautiful afternoon with nothing to look forward to than more of the same." — Hugh Hood
Report from James Brooker
MWCC Stats