Day 5 of the Mogador Wanderers 2003 Cricket Tour and the assembled Mogs were showing real signs of tour fatigue. Like a post-haircut Sampson we were below strength in terms of personnel and energy, but having won the toss we elected to field first on a damp pitch, which had yielded over 550 runs in the corresponding fixture last year.
Openers Tharp & Lewis J bowled a slow & steady line and both were unlucky as Newdigate's openers both lived charmed lives. Our fielding was comical with at least 5 catches going down in the opening 20 overs and despite removing one bespectacled opener for 31 (bowled Lewis M), Newdigate continued to make use of a 30 yard leg-side boundary (from the pavilion end), hitting a total of 12 leg-side 6's during their innings. Briggs, Hewitt, & Martin P all tried in vain to stem the scoring but Newdigate found themselves at 200-1 with their birthday boy hitting an impressively cross-batted 103. Fortunately Lewis M returned for a second spell and with Abbott rousing himself to half-speed down the hill, the Mogs finally wrestled back some pride as we restricted Newdigate to 239-5 off 43 overs.
Battle-weary Mogs settled into a fine tea, but soon it was time to face the music and Furner & Tharp were greeted at the wicket by a very keen Newdigate XI, complete with 2 quick opening bowlers. Tharp had settled into his role of pinch hitter before snicking one behind for 14 so Yoda was joined by Hewitt, still fresh from the Lechlade run chase. Unfortunately no more fireworks came as he was caught on the point boundary for 15. Abbott came in and hit some lusty blows, but he & Furner were dismissed in close succession with Furns scoring an excellent 61. Richard Moss was compiling a patient 25 at this time and whilst Jo Lewis (20) was at the crease, the hopes of an unlikely victory were still in our minds. Regrettably both wickets fell and it was up to Matt Lewis and William Parker to bat out for a draw.
MWCC Stats