Summer finally arrived for the game against Leatherhead Strollers. Bright sunshine greeted the teams and with a gentle breeze sweeping the ground the Mogs took the field for a 'ten a side' declaration game.
The Leatherhead pitch was nice and flat, however following a week of rain, the wicket was a little soft and anything a short stuck in the pitch. Joe Lewis and Charlie Lee took the new ball and immediately hit their straps with some accurate bowling probing the corridor of uncertainty. Lewis struck first with an excellent straight ball which clattered into the opening batsman's pads. The LBW decision was a formality. The Leatherhead batsmen then dug in and started to accumulate a small stand before Dairy Lee took the first of his wickets, beating the batsman for pace, and demolishing the stumps. Joe and Charlie kept things tight and with the run rate at barely 3 an over Charlie took his second wicket, again not trusting his fielders, and clean bowling the Leatherhead number 4.
The Leatherhead 3 and 5 battened down the hatches and successfully started to rebuild their innings. Andy Tharp bought himself on at the leisure centre end and Ash Bukhari came on at the skate park end. Despite some strong bowling, the Leatherhead batsmen were going well and the only opportunities were from two very close run out chances from Will Riddy playing his first game for the Mogs. The Leatherhead batsmen were not used to young legs picking and throwing at such pace and on another day they could have been five down.
Drinks were taken, with a very bold mix of orange squash which wouldn't have been out of place in 1977. As so often happens, the breakthrough happened just after drinks with Ash taking his first of the day, again clean bowled. With Andy Tharp out of the attack the spin twins of Murali Baht and Ash Bukhari plied their trade. Their skill was too much for the Leatherhead Strollers and wickets fell at regular intervals and with good catches from Pete Riddy, Andy Tharp and Will Parker taking a fine slashing edge behind the stumps. This was the Colonel's 400th dismissal for the Mogs, a very fine landmark to reach.
Leatherhead were finally dismissed in the 40th over with the score on 145. Mr Mead, the Leatherhead number 3 top scored with a fine 58.
The Mogs were greeted to and excellent spread of tea in the pavilion with a fine selection of sandwiches. Sausage rolls were the pork based savoury and small cheesy biscuits completed the healthy options. The variety of cakes was the best we have seen this season. A very good marble cake was the retro choice and for the traditionalists there was both a chocolate and jam Swiss roll, Victoria sponge and jam tarts. Finally sliced melon was provided to cleanse the palette.
Refreshed the Mogs batsmen started the task of knocking off the 145 required with Ash and Peter Furner opening the innings. Ash clearly likes the Leatherhead ground, having score 150 not out last year. He continued from where he left off in 2016 and swiftly accumulated 20 runs off a decent Leatherhead opening attack before Peter Furner got off the mark with a nicely taken drive to long on. Furns added to his score with a single and was once again facing Mr Sutherland, the Leatherhead leg spinner. From the pavilion, square of the wicket, all we saw was Furner being bowled. What actually happened, as explained by Furns, is best described by following this link to Warne verses Gatting, https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rOVei8iTyM8. Yes, Furner received the ball of the 21st century, great bowling Mr Sutherland.
Pete Riddy joined Ash at the crease and was immediately given a chance with a sharp catch going down at a square, short, fine leg off Mr Sutherland. At this stage we did not know that was the last chance Leatherhead would get. Ash Bukhari accumulated his runs in a very classy way and Pete Riddy contributed with his more agricultural style. The victory was completed with 18 overs to spare with Ash 86 not out and Pete on 50 not out. Ash Bukhari has now score around 240 runs against the Strollers and has yet to be dismissed.
Thanks must go to Leatherhead Strollers for hosting us so well, to Will Riddy's housemaster for agreeing to turn a blind eye if Will was late for chapel thus enabling him to play (unfortunately for Will, as the game finished quickly, he was back to school in plenty of time). And finally thanks to Paul Fisher who sat in his pads for an hour and didn't get a bowl.
report by Peter Riddy
MWCC Stats