Mogador Wanderers arriving at the Headley fixture on a glorious English summer's day were treated to an idyllic pastoral scene. The Captain and other senior members of the club with children and expectant wives were lounging in the shade by the pavilion, lunching and supping ale in true MWCC fashion.
The first decision of the afternoon went against the visitors who lost the toss and were put in to field under the fierce August sun. However a tidy opening spell by the skipper and Abbott saw the home side struggling at 43 - 3. At this stage fortune turned against the visitors temporarily and a few difficult spilled chances allowed Headley to put on 118 for the 4th wicket. This was done by their Captain and a tall, hulking left hander who none of the Mogs recognised as the small, insistent boy of the mid 90's who was always to be found at the ground keen to bat or bowl to anyone who went within 50 yards of the net - James Moss.
The return of Abbott ended the flowing runs of Moss on 80 as an inswinger clattered into his stumps. At the other end the skipper, demonstrating his mastery of the ancient oriental arts of warfare hatched a plot in true Sun-Tzu style to dismiss his opposite number. He lured him out of his ground with a shorter ball but the usual off spin had been reversed and the bails were off before he could recover to his crease. The Mogs then made steady progress through the Headley batting before a confident final stand left the home side on 227-8 at tea, with both Hewitt and Abbott having collected 4 wickets each.
The Mogs set off in pursuit of the target but the usual opening dynamo of Furner and Jackson did not power up in its usual manner as both were dismissed cheaply by their normal standards. This left the visitors on 38-2 but Ben Fairclough batting at 3 was soon hitting the ball crisply and powerfully to all parts of the ground and made steady progress. The Mogs were at risk of being becalmed as the final 20 overs began but David Martin scored a strong 59 as they also had a stand of 118 which swung the match back in favour of the Mogs. Despite the quick dismissals of Tharp and Moss, some confident striking by the Captain helped see the Mogs home by 4 wickets but not before Fairclough completed a superlative maiden century for the club, ending the match undefeated on 102.
The players then retired to enjoy Headley's customary excellent hospitality, marked by the traditional sausage sandwiches and liberal consumption of hop based products.
Report by Colonel William T Parker, US Marine Corps (retired)
MWCC Stats