Format: 40 overs
Reigate Priory Cavaliers bowled out in 30.0 overs
Ahson Bukhari: 60 in 61 balls (50 in 52)
For a Mogador Wanderer, pulling into Reigate Priory’s idyllic ground feels like settling into a favourite armchair – refreshing beverage in hand with a tempting feast of cricket ready and waiting for the eyes. Our hosts had prepared a central wicket for the traditional early season fixture against their sprightly Sunday Cavaliers XI. Captain Cooper won the toss and Furner Turner strode to the crease to face two turners on a slow medium bunsen burner. After a few overs of acclimatization, Turner hit the afterburner whilst Furner continued his solid season as the Mog’s prime churner. In an unusual but pleasing statement of intent, both openers departed to sharp stumpings (Turner 35, Furner 16) and Bukhari arrived to a hero’s greeting from many of his erstwhile friends and teammates in the opposition. He reciprocated their warm welcome by smashing the bowlers to all parts, joined by Captain Cooper in a terrific 88 run partnership that took the Mogs up to 150 from 31 overs and well set for a competitive total. Following their respective departures for 60 and 39, the middle order of Pullen, Freeland and Fairclough scampered and smote another 54 runs from the remaining 9 overs to set the Cavs 205 to win from their 40 over allocation.
Tea was predictably satisfying with the added bonus of precise labelling to assist the sometime stressful agony of choice when reaching the front of the queue. A long running conversation about the supreme leader of any cricket tea product mix was resolved by Dr Bason’s flourishing of the Tunnock Tea Cake and after slightly longer than the already generous 40 minute interval the Mogs took the field with new ball in hand.
With a wonderful variety of styles matching the diversity of tea, Captain Cooper was spoilt for choice with his bowling attack. Califato barrelled in with verve and pace whilst Ollie Burton hit a perfect length that he cleverly adjusted after each over to match his relentless growth spurt. One observer described him as starting his spell like Glenn McGrath and ending it like Curtley Ambrose. Suffice to say, as his release point heightened, his accuracy and swing grew ever more impressive as he closed out with remarkable figures of 5 overs 2 for 6. Pullen took over after Califato had made his customary breakthrough and with his first deceptively quick ball induced the prolific Wilson to edge high to Freeland at slip and then Withers to be superbly caught low and one handed by a swooping Bukhari. The Cavs were teetering at 57-5, but unfortunately for them things were only going to get more confusing as their middle order was now faced with two brilliant spells of accurate wrist spin turning both ways from both ends.
The Mog’s premier medical professional Dr Joe Bason prescribed a 6 over course of high bouncing (mainly) googlies whilst young ripper Barney Foster displayed a waspish mix of leggies, toppies and sliders that sent the remainder of the innings into a terminal tailspin. A word at this stage for Ben “Fur Gloves” Fairclough who had the unenviable task of guessing which way the next one would turn, a task that he and all parts of his anatomy stuck to manfully and often loudly. Indeed there was a stumping from Bason amid wild celebration and when the final wicket of brave skipper Rajarethinam was taken the Mogs had won by 85 runs with 10 overs to spare. A great day ended with great friends in the Reigate Priory pavilion toasting a hat-trick of Mog wins to open up what is shaping up to be a most promising 2025 season.
MWCC Stats