<p>The Mighty Mogs travelled to East Horsley looking to get back to winning ways after a disappointing result against the Priory the week before. Skipper for the day Mr Darrell Abbott esq was in a buoyant mood, especially after winning £10 on the fruity at the Duke of Wellington. This was soon changed when, whilst on the way to do the toss with Tim Drake, he was informed that the opposition regarded the Mighty Mogs as a team who always went for the draw!! This incensed the skipper who won the toss and immediately decided to bat first, game on!!</p>
<p>Yoda and Action opened the innings, and what the skipper described as a good track struggled early on against some good bowling and the two paced nature of the pitch. Action soon got into his stride and despatched the left arm opener for three fours in succession, and Yoda too showed some attacking flair hitting him to cow corner, I kid you not. Yoda was the first to depart, and Action was joined by Trig, and all the Mogs hoped that there wouldn't be a reoccurrence of the farcical run out the week before. Thankfully Trig didn't run out Action first ball and they soon started to pick up the rate. Action was the next to depart, but not before he had reached his 2nd fifty in three innings, finally falling for 53. Trig was joined by Face Man, and hopes were high that these two would increase the rate even further. However the young East Horsley leg spinner had different ideas, and had both of them stumped in quick succession, playing almost identical hoicks!!</p>
<p>Cabbie and El Presidente got going, before Cabbie, probably recovering after his excursions of the day before, was the next out with the score on 170 odd after 38 overs. Tharpy came in and told El Presidente that the skipper wanted to declare in 4 overs time. El Presidente thought this might be a trifle early, as did Tharpy after realising we would bowl at least 6 more overs back at our esteemed hosts. The skipper was definitely not going to let this game end in a draw!!! At the end of the 42nd over the Mighty Mogs were 204 - 5 and as he threatened to, Exxon called the Mogs in with El Presidente 42 no.</p>
<p>Hopes were high for an ample tea, but were soon scuppered when only 2 trays of sandwiches were espied on the table. The Mogs were therefore unable to soak up the beer that they had drunk during the first innings, and this was very evident during the first few overs. It is here that the Mogs showed their Jekyll and Hyde qualities and metamorphosed into Yobador Wanderers, aided and abetted by some choice comments by the East Horsley batsmen (Drake jnr). Having removed the dangerous opener first ball, things were looking up, however after some poor bowling and fielding (even yours truly let a ball through his legs for four) the oppo were 90 odd for 2 after only 12 overs and with 30 odd left to score the remaining 100. Offbreak had reverted to his old moniker of Toys, and seemed to have more in his pram than FAO Schwarz!!! The Mogs suddenly had at least 6 skippers on the field, and it looked as though they were going to succumb to an even more embarrassing defeat than that of the week before.</p>
<p>Exxon was trying his best to motivate the troops, and following discussions with various Mogs, what turned out to be his first masterstroke of the day ( at least I think so!!) he turned to Trig, the occasional leg spinner. This was make or break time, as East Horsley now only needed 60 odd with 7 wickets and over 20 overs remaining. Trig was soon into his stride and was soon picking up wickets regularly, and with Exxon coming on and removing the two dangerous 12 year olds, things were looking up. (Mention must be made to Steve Hodge, who reversed a decision and called a batsman back. What a good umpire he is and also an example to the Mogs of the spirit cricket should be played, especially on a Sunday!!)</p>
<p>With the required runs now down to 15, four wickets were still needed, Trig took 2 quick wickets, and each time turned to where Claire was sitting and gestured wildly. Exxon's next masterstroke was to bring back Pilau, who after an expensive first spell was a lot quicker and straighter and managed to get the wickets needed down to just 1. E Horsley only needed 4 to win, and the youngest Drake was batting with his father and looking very settled, that is until Pilau unleashed a quick Yorker to bowl the youngest Drake middle stump, and the Mighty Mogs to a quite remarkable victory by three runs. Pilau soon wished he hadn't taken the last wicket as he was literally swamped by our esteemed captain and a few more Mogs.</p>
<p>The Mogs changed without showering, as they were out of order due to building work, and convened to the bar where only 2 of the opposition were remaining. Some would say they didn't take the result to well!! So the Mogs win again and it is onto the Pilgrims next week, where hopefully they can continue the winning ways, but in a manner more reminiscent of the spirit of Sunday Cricket!!</p>
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