Bukhari's Brexit while Leadership Crisis Looms
As Nick Ferrari wrote in his Daily Express column just last week, bellweather fault lines in traditional English culture are beginning to show and nowhere was this more on show than during the Mogs visit to the Red Lion and the Pilgrims. Six hours of solid mizzle is, according to Mr Ferrari, the norm and we must adapt to the new playing conditions, and adapt we did as we huddled in the pub for a further hour.
Confusion followed when the team were advised that none of the leadership team were either playing or available for comment, and that Junior Minister for Tour, Lee was thrust to the front. Ill equipped with a questionable CV, the bemused but faithful team rallied around Charlie, despite the lack of flag or scorebook and he strode out for the inevitable toss which was duly conceded for the 36th season allowing the Mogs to unleash it's on-form attack. Both openers Bukhari and Furner began the game having scored exactly the same runs in the 2016 season, albeit not in the same number of games played.
For the second week running Bukhari's destructive batting dominated the Mogs innings, Brexiting the Ball to all parts which tested the scorebookless Mogs keeping track on the score in our heads while updating the flag waving, binocular wearing Penny under the big tree. Furner, Brown, Tombs and Cooper all chipped in with super little cameos ticking the board over however it was Ashon's 115 that stole the show, fast followed by debutante Gary Anderson's 1 no. allowing the Mogs to declare on 221-4.
The break arrived after 38 overs which meant at least the same offered back. Tea was polished off while plans were drafted for the Pilgrim onslaught. New skipper Lee unveiled a new opening partnership of Lewis and Tharp Jnr which bamboozled the big hitters of Betchworth. The breakthrough coming after the ball was launched into dead body forest, and citing Zika, no-one was willing to go and find it, allowing Lewis the chance to bowl with the one the dog was playing with.
Turning at right angles, the oblong ball pitched on leg and dismantled off, just before the original ball was found by the Pilgrim faithful unworried about small headed offspring and the game continued. Many highlights in the field - wickets, catches, run-outs and lbw's a plenty. Hats to Lewis for his mammoth spell, Sakes for steering the ship in the office and selflessly allowing new boy Anderson the ball to gain his first wicket for the team.
As the final wicket was taken, victory was briefly reflected on as we cued under a single dribble of water collective in our concern for the future steerage of our great side. Will any others come out from the shadows and mount a leadership campaign? Only time will tell...until then, bring on Horsley and Send.
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