When a batsmen is so in form, it is said that they feel they can 'hit within the flags' - their shot making selection is so sublime with accuracy and power, coupled with and an impenetrable defense that means he has reached batting nirvana.
At Leigh, the Mogs took part in what must already be a candidate for match of the season. The game was completely dominated by batsmen who created a cricket pyrotechnics show for all to see through a plethora of power, touch and sheer brutality.
Being inserted on a losing toss, the Mogs opened with the familiar Jekyll and Hyde partnership of Furner and Turner. Meanwhile, a delighted Dairy Lee took a huge sigh of relief knowing that there was no way he could have opened the bowling on an enormous plate of ham, egg & chips consumed at the Seven Stars.
Turner made the most of his cricket day release by batting positively, taking the attack to the Leigh bowlers from the word go. Furner playing his classic diligent and guarded defense against a tight line and length. Having taken the captain and spinner for 3 fours in the previous over, Tina attempted an over-the-top extra-cover shot he saw on the telly the day before and smeared it straight to the waiting fielder in the ring.
Toombsy took over straight away and tee'd off from the go, batting with ease. However, he committed the cardinal sin of smearing a ball to mid-wicket, nearly hitting the Shogun and the tea lady that had turned up to deliver our half-time feast. The poor tea lady had to take emergency action and a huge platter of carefully prepared sandwiches was saved from flying into the field of play, by the marvelous juggling act of our splendid tea lady.
The loss of Yoda for 18 brought in Golden Graham, who for the first couple of over's was looking like a walking wicket. He eventually found his CTRL-ALT-DELETE button and reset his game to 'batting like Flintoff'. Sixes and fours rained for the next 25 mins; with one shot being so powerfully hit it was close to not only breaking the speed of sound but decapitating a fielder at the same time.
Realising he was close to 50 and the obligatory jug purchase, Toombsy went for 49, bringing in our skipper. A temptingly flighted half volley was served up for the Hewitt buffet cart, and the skipper didn't refuse the invite. The mid-off fielder had two choices to make when it was arriving at his head at exocet speed - catch it, or wear it. He pulled off the life saving catch and AJ departed for a duck.
Golden went soon after that for a ballistic 40 and the partnership of Cabbie and Jilly Cooper was a veritable slog-fest. Honey monster & Coops sparred with the opposition, slugging sixes into all parts of the ground. One six narrowly missing a tractor that was ploughing the adjacent field.
After the late loss of Cabbie for 43, our very own Mike Gatting lookalike, Eggster Tharp, arrived at the crease. Gatts played an exquisite leg side paddle to give Jilly the strike, which was then able to bring up his 50 in magnificent style, straight hitting the returning left arm opener for a colossal straight six. An impressive total of 274 was posted.
Whilst everyone went to tea to put ice packs on their necks to recover from all the stretching looking into the sky, it is customary to discuss the tea. There were truly excellent sandwiches provided with a selection of top quality meats. The lack of cheese sarnies, mini sausage rolls and heavily buttered malt loaf means the overall score should be 7/10. However, the tea lady did survive a near-death experience delivering our tea and is awarded 2 bonus points, leading to a final score of 9/10.
As the MOGS took to the field, comfortable in their fine total, this soon looked extremely under-par when the Leigh opener reached his 100 after 20 over's. He made Jos Buttler's innings the previous day for England look boycott-like. With the help from their skipper, there was no mercy for any Mogador bowler. Singles were very rare and the breakthrough from Hewitt (3 wkts) and Cooper (3 wkts) led to a chink of light and slowly disintegrated Leigh. The run rate was still ticking over nicely though for Leigh and with wickets falling at regular interval - it was anyone's to win.
Having fielded like a dynamo all day, even at one stage throwing the ball so hard that he fell over in the process, Furns chased down a ball to long leg that was destined for 4 and crucial in the run chase. He performed a mini 'big daddy splash' and stopped the ball from reaching the boundary. A quick throw back and the batsmen was stranded. Got 'im!
Then lightening really did strike twice. In the last over, the batsmen belted it to deep cow, where Tina Turner raced in and threw the ball straight back to the Colonel. Game, set and match to the Mogs. A well oiled set of Mogador supporters greeted the team and hailed a superb victory.
The Surrey Mirror reported the next day that a lucky punter had scoped £50k from a £1 bet on Furner and Turner being involved in fielding heroics.
Richard Turner
MWCC Stats