Format: Declaration. Debuts: Dexter Spring & Rory Spring.
Ash Bukhari 101 in 106 balls.
The Mogador Wanderers recorded a fine win yesterday against The Cavaliers, on a sunny, breezy afternoon in Reigate with Park Lane looking immaculate. Hewitt won the toss and with a team that boasted 5 teenagers, had no hesitation in offering to field first, which oppo Captain Manny accepted with glee, confident that he had a strong side. Harry and Alfie Hewitt opened the bowling and whilst elder brother Harry (19) was bowling a miserly spell of 4th stump “line & length†which saw him beat the bat on about 10 occasions, Alfie (17) was bowling rockets with the wind behind, combined with significant inswing. Alfie struck in his first & 3rd over, both hitting off stump through the gate, the second of which split the top of the stump. With three slips and a gulley and the ring backing up the bowlers brilliantly, the Cavaliers were on the backfoot with only 31 runs conceded from their first 12 overs. Dexter Spring who, with younger brother Rory, was making his Mogs debut, replaced Harry and automatically settled into a great spell and was rewarded with a memorable wicket as Honeyfield, apparently hailing a taxi from cover, stuck his right hand out and found a cricket ball stick enter it at Mach 5 – it was a hell of a catch. The Cavaliers' middle order started to find their range and Barry, replacing Alfie, and Dexter found the going a bit tougher with the ball starting to sail out of the ground with one massive 6 troubling the guests in the Blue Anchor. There was only one thing for it - send for the 14 year olds! Ollie Burton bowled a quite magnificent spell of 8-2-31-3 when the going was at its toughest, but it was Rory Spring who produced the match highlight when he had The Cavaliers' skipper caught by his big brother quite brilliantly on the deep square leg boundary. The beaming smile on Dad's face said it all. Alfie came on and took his 3rd wicket and The Cavaliers declared at 200-8. It had been a quite brilliant bowling and fielding performance – special mention to Ben Willis who donned the gloves and performed admirably.
By tea the crowd had built up and The Mogs were not short of support. John & Mandy Honeyfield, Robert & Carole Hewitt, Humph, Fish, Will & Ashleigh Cooper, Charlie & Ali Lee, Ben & Alex Fairclough, Jonno, Magic & Andy, Joseph, Hoady & many others came to watch & cheer The Mog Warriors on. Thank you. Fortified by a splendid tea, Ash Bukhari & Harry opened up and serenely put on 29 before Harry (11) chipped a return catch. Graham Spring (4) went LBW, Honeyfield (11) saw off the new ball but miscued a full toss to mid on and Ben Willis (0) was caught behind but all the while Ash was producing yet another batting masterclass, punishing anything loose and giving anything straight the respect it deserved. He reached his 50 with a sumptuous on drive and when Hewitt entered the field of play, The Mogs needed 106 off 18 overs. With The Cavaliers short of bowling, The Mogs went on the attack and a big win looked on the cards until Hewitt (31) was bowled middle stump. Ash completed a fine hundred but was out for a brilliant 101 when he too hit a full toss to mid on and suddenly The Mogs needed 19 off only 4.4 overs with only the youngsters (and Barry) left in the hutch. We should never have worried! Dexter & Alfie took care of the runs in 10 balls with a mixture of beautiful boundaries and some excellent running. Game, set and match.
Huge thanks to Barry for doing nearly all of the scoring - legend. Huge thanks to The Cavaliers for a terrific game played in a great spirit. Huge thanks to Ben & Charlie for firing up the BBQ. Huge thanks to Ash for a sublime ton, without which the result would have been different. But this game should however be remembered for the five teenagers performing brilliantly – not only was their bowling, fielding and catching of the very highest quality, but their desire to win inspired the older generation to not let them down. And with other youngsters waiting in the wings, suddenly The Mogs future looks extremely bright.
MWCC Stats