The Mogs recorded a fine win against a combative Headley side on a muggy, overcast autumn afternoon. After torrential rain earlier in the week, the Mogs had no hesitation in asking our hosts to bat first, though not before both sides enjoyed a delicious Ploughman's lunch washed down by a small glass of black velvet via the Presidents sparkling.
Brooker and Lewis opened the bowling and the first 10 overs saw Headley reach 50-1 with Lego claiming one scalp courtesy of a good Cooper catch, though both bowlers beat the bat regularly on a pitch that offered everything to all types of bowler.
Tharp replaced Joseph and struck three times in his 7 fine overs with the pitch making it very hard given that some balls bounced at regulation height whilst others came through like Joel Garner bouncers.
Headley's no 3 John, who as a young man opened the bowling with Darren Gough at Barnsley, reached an excellent 50 but perished via a good over his head return catch by Hewitt. No 6 Steve smote the ball all over for an excellent 50, denting Bhukari and Lewis's figures and our hosts reached 176-8 off their 35 overs.
Tea was a fine affair with lunch's leftovers joined by some warm sausage rolls, pizza, cake and fresh watermelon - the hospitality was of the finest order.
Rob Brown and Ash Bhat opened the batting with wily operator Alan Clarke opening the bowling from one end and express train Henry from the other. The Mogs reached 59 without loss without alarm before Ash was run out bringing Ash the Elder to the crease. Opening bowler Henry was fairly hurtling in by now with charming Headley Captain Lee goading him to reach ever faster heights with Yorkshire war cries of "get your fat, hungover arse into it" and one rip snorting delivery spat off the pitch, nicked Ash's glove and thwacked into the keepers glove. Umpire Hewitt's finger was raised and Ash was sent back to the pavilion for his second consecutive duck.
Fisher strolled in at no 4 and with the excellent Brown, who played one of his best innings for the Mogs (71), they took the sting out of our hosts come back with an excellent 50 run partnership that kept us ahead of the run rate as Headley ran out of bowling options. Rob departed lbw for an excellent 71, Fisher was stumped with the game nearly up but Hewitt and Cooper saw the Mogs win by 5 wickets with 15 balls to go.
Post match beers were shared with Predidents and Vice Presidents from both clubs who were joined by a small band of loyal supporters and we made a small dent in Headley's beer supplies as they signed off for the season. The Mogs have one game to play and if we can record one more win it will have been our best season since 2004.
Hewitt
MWCC Stats