Format: 35 overs. Debuts: Barney Foster, Will Loft
The Mogs arrived to their oldest fixture just under a month late from the proposed start of the season after surely one of the wettest springs in living memory. Tadworth welcomed us to a ground that had taken the recent bad weather pretty well on a track that was understandably green but certainly no minefield. The outfield certainly was lush and a few senior Mogs wishing they hadn’t skipped “cardio†day at the gym with the lowest number of boundaries scored in recent seasons. JD with some pre-game heroics: sweeping the RH2 postcode area for able youngsters, providing taxi support for young Will Loft and replacing an injured Tom Jackson within 12 minutes of a last minute call out with RGS colt Barney Foster. JD’s ease of access to a battery of promising young cricketers proving a huge boost for the Mogs “deep benchâ€.
Losing the toss and being inserted to bat, Mogs stuck with tried and tested “Turner and Furnerâ€, putting on 51 for the first partnership for the first half of the innings. Only 1 or 2 boundaries scored in the entire partnership as the outfield proved a big challenge as it dried out. For the first wicket captain Cooper entered for his first touch of a cricket bat having asked his heavily pregnant wife to taxi his bat to the game having left it in the cupboard all winter, to be bravely dismissed 4th ball. Mogs stalwarts Jackson and JD also followed soon after to be joined at the crease by Chairman Hewitt and debutant, 17 year old Will Loft for the defining partnership of the game. A combination of energetic running between the wickets and belligerent hitting over the top brought a partnership of 89* taking the total to 172 for 5, probably 30 runs above predicted par. Alex finished with a deserved 50 not out and Will Loft with 29 not out.
Tadworth teas were a splendid affair. How many teas can we remember featuring an all crustless sandwich array and salmon sandwich “pinwheelsâ€. In what increasingly feels a dying craft, Tadworth stood up to lead the way on a terrific spread!
With the ball, Ollie Burton and Brennan Calafato gave us a great start combined with some terrific Mogs fielding, Jackson, Burton and Hewitt orchestrating the “inner ring†to be as tight as a captain could want. At least 15-20 runs saved in the opening 10 overs probably made the difference later in the game.
Will Loft came on first change with some big in ducking medium pace and young Barney Foster bowled a terrific spell of leg spin. One of the best artists of the craft seen since “the doctor†Joe Bason turned up for his annual spell back in 2017. Sadly the good balls didn’t find the edge but the Mogs continued to keep it tight. Hewitt finally with the breakthrough in the 25th over after a good opening partnership from Tadworth. Then, as the run rate crept up, the bowlers found their rewards returning for second spells. Will L, Ollie B (plus a run out) and Barney all returning with wickets and a couple of “Ten Pin†run outs from the Colonel Parker delivering a fine opening win. Of the 7 wickets that were taken through bowlers, 6 of them fell to our youngest players.
Our thanks to Keith Briggs for his time as always and a surprise 2nd innings umpiring cameo from Jamie Freeland whom it was great to see for the afternoon. Thanks too to Tadworth who are trying to rebuild their Sunday friendly team: a game where everyone gets a game received in good spirits is the type of cricket we are all about. Well done everyone!
Report by Will Cooper.
MWCC Stats