The Mogs travelled down to the picturesque village of Ewhurst for a 40 over per side game. It was the Ewhurst president's day and to allow enough labour, from the batting side, to help prepare tea it was negotiated to allow Ewhurst to bat first. The thought of extra help being required to set up the tea spread immediately lifted the Mogs' spirits.
Charlie Lee and Harry Hewitt opened the bowling and it immediately became clear that, in common with other fixtures this year, Ewhurst had a considerably stronger side than last year. Despite only having arrived in the UK on the morning of the game, on an overnight flight from Kos, Alex Hewitt was on fire in the covers pulling off some sharps stops. When the Ewhurst opener opened his shoulders into a good length Lee ball it was no surprise that Alex snaffled a fantastic catch taken low to his right. Another wicket was gained by Charlie when the Ewhurst number three played around a very full ball to be clean bowled.
It was at this point the game changed. Alex Hewitt had replaced the economical Harry at the pond end and was bowling well. The new Ewhurst batsman, (who would not have looked out of place playing the double base for Munford and Sons), picked up a perfect off spin delivery and deposited the ball onto the far side of the road. Furns gathered the ball from the road and hurled it back towards the pitch, only for it to strike a lonesome tree on the boundary. The ball ricocheted deep into thick rough. The Mogs search party was dispatched to retrieve Peter (and the ball) from the undergrowth.
Ewhurst started to take advantage of the short boundary and, despite a Cooper Parker combination stumping to remove the second Ewhurst opener, the runs flowed effortlessly. A number of Mogs dropped catches did not help matters and when the hard and shiny ball, which Tharp was starting to swing, was hit into the pond to be replaced by a soft spongey piece of leather we wondered whether Ewhurst would reach 300. In the end, with the help of some late wickets, Ewhurst reached 250. With the short boundary The Mogs felt that the chase could be on.
Tea was a triumph, a fine selection of sandwiches, cakes, quiche, sausage rolls and samosas, all homemade. It was almost as if Ewhurst had seen the 'Cooper Perfect Tea' spreadsheet.
With the sky darkening (an omen for what was to follow perhaps) the Mogs innings started brightly with Furner and Cooper progressing at five runs an over. Cheeky singles were being taken and spirits were high. Unfortunately Furns was run out trying to pinch the strike. Scoreboard pressure, together with a lack of talent accounted, for Riddy and the Mogs innings was on the rocks. Despite some nice strikes from Oscar J-L wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals.
There was, however, resistance from the experienced pair of Hewitt and Lee. Alex stuck some mighty blows including a (literally) cracking short which was deflected to the long off boundary by extra cover. Unfortunately for the Ewhurst fielder, the top his thumb was now pointing at a jaunty angle.
Fortunately, the Mogs have in their ranks Mr Murali, hand surgeon extraordinaire. Murali, languidly, strolled onto the pitch and without fuss, a team of anaesthetists or instruments, casually popped the thumb back into position. Murali fashioned a splint from the Ewhurst first aid box and a whiskey was poured for the casualty who had turned rather ashen.
Unfortunately this was a high point for the Mogs as wickets continued to fall, the rain started to fall, and The Mogs were finally dismissed for 160. A comprehensive loss.
Many congratulations to Ewhurst for outplaying us on the day and for providing great hospitality. And well done to Murali for saving another digit.
MWCC Stats