Format: 35 overs. Debuts: Ben Freeland, William Freeland.
Phil Goulstone 85* in 82 balls.
All Ditchling players bowled (except the wicketkeeper).
Mogs bowled 5 ball & 7 ball overs and an 8 ball over as well as the usual 6!
A glorious summer's day in East Sussex saw the Mogs uncharacteristically on time and on the field warming up as the start time was pushed back to allow the home side to assemble. It was a big day for Ben "Next Gen Ben" Freeland playing his first Mogs game and ensuring that half the team came from the Freeland and Jackson families.
Mogs calmly won the toss, batted and raced to 94 for 6 in 15 overs, runs and wickets flowing plentifully and all the many Freelands been and gone: Jamie Freeland somehow contriving to hit a leg side wide with the back toe of his bat to fine leg who caught it using both arms, a boot and a thigh.
Goulstone and Calafato steadied the ship, judiciously blocking or bludgeoning as appropriate, and putting on 57 for the 7th wicket. Jackson Snr and Parker contributed to further partnerships and the Mogs eked out 218-9 in their 35 overs. Goulstone the visiting Australian was the heaviest contributor with 85*. Well done Ditchling who gave every fielder a bowl, although they did spend 3 and a half hours doing it.
Tea was a delight: Ditchling player Sam Attfield's catering firm Cafe du Van delivered a feast of sandwiches, cakes, sausage rolls, pork pies and scones.
Let us gloss over the events of the next 60 minutes: the less we speak of them the better. After 11 overs there had been multiple tantrums, 6 lost balls, various players and umpires leaving the field of play and generally very much not the Mogs' finest hour. Ditchling 86 for 0 from 11 and totally in command as the Mogs self-destructed.
Then the bowlers turned the game around. Calafato produced the champagne moment du jour, bowling Barney for 49 from 33 balls with an exquisite slower ball off-cutter; Emily Taylor patiently prised out the other opener caught by Furner at long on; Ben Freeland castled the dangerous Denslow; and Will Freeland simply strangled the innings with a remarkable spell of 7 overs 1 for 9. Ditchling finished on 191 for 6 from their 35 and celebration shandies all round for the good guys after a hard-fought 27 run victory.
MWCC Stats