<p>Reigate Priory on a sunny July day really is as close to perfection as you can get, and spectators were treated to a game of cricket that did justice to the gorgeous surroundings.</p>
<p>The Priory openers marched in to face a slightly jaded Mogs fielding side 'fresh' from a not insubstantial pre-match session with their hosts the previous evening. However Joe 'Pistol' Lewis outwitted their opening pair to snatch two early wickets with his bewildering variations of pace, swing and bounce, the second courtesy of a stupendous one-handed catch by temporary glovemeister 'Face' Fairclough. Meantime hormonally charged student 'Pilau' Rice generated some high speed deliveries from the Blue Anchor end, which seemed to disconcert our stand-in keeper more than the batsmen, and the scoring rate remained high with the first 100 runs accruing from only 11 overs.</p>
<p>Many of these had stylishly flowed from the bat of their 14 year wunderkind Jason Roy, who after an impressive league season for the 2nd XI has now been picked to represent their premiership topping 1st XI side - a quite exceptional achievement. A battle with bitter ex-youngster Freeland was a nip and tuck affair, with some mutually admiring comments abruptly ceasing (from the bowler) when the starlet was dropped on 52 at square leg.</p>
<p>Meanwhile Darrel '7/8th's*' Abbot was hurling his Adonis-like frame into a spell full of pace and control, and worked away at the other end (long rumoured to be his preference) to record a 5 over spell of 2-5 courtesy of some reliable catching behind the wicket. Only the free-flowing Roy was able to handle his skillful offerings and he serenely progressed to a magnificent 100 with the Priory on 190-5.</p>
<p>Tight bowling in particular from Hewitt chipped away at the Priory late-middle order, but the unquencheable fire of youth continued to flame at one end, propelling the Priory to an all out total of 263 from 50.2 overes with Roy left high, dry but somewhat talented on 152 not out.</p>
<p>The Mogs decided to utilise their new signing, ex-British Universities captain Alex Halliday, in an opening pairing with Freeland, and the pair put on 50 largely untroubled runs before the latter scooped a bizarre catch to point off Priory's skipper Toby Briggs, who persisted with his shrewd, short pitched angle of attack to trap Fairclough hooking with his next ball. Tharp departed in similar style, but all the while Halliday was sending cover drives scooting down the hill to the tennis courts and picking off the occasional leg side half volley off his legs to reach 46 not out at tea.</p>
<p>Jackson has been in masterful form this year, and in partnership with Halliday the pair looked to be building a substantial and potentially match-winning partnership as the shadows lengthened and the bowling became a little more youthful. The momentum swung however when Briggs reverted to crafty off-spin and Halliday was caught at mid off for a classy 76. Honeyfield joined Jackson in a hard working stand against the persevering Gibson and Briggs, and with 20 overs to go the Mogs needed 120 to win with 6 wickets in hand.</p>
<p>However a run out prematurely ejected Honefield, and with 'Action' Jackson falling for 33 the beam of expectation fell on Abbot and Hewitt, two sons of Reigate well capable of supplying the requisite fireworks.</p>
<p>Sadly, a couple of magnificent blows apart including Abbots stunning rocket over the long off boundary, it was not to be and after a stirring 35 run last wicket stand by 'Pilau' Rice and Joe Lewis, it was goodnight Vienna with 5 balls and 26 runs required. How fitting though that the end came gloriously with Lewis, attempting the first of five consecutive 6's to win the game only to be stumped off a triumphant Briggs.</p>
<p>(*A reference to recent body sculpting effort.)</p>
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