<p>The Mogs travelled to the village of Ockham on Sunday for their penultimate game of the season. The team arrived in various states of soberness and punctuality, with at least half the team arriving 5 minutes before the scheduled start, including our skipper for the day Matt Lewis. It was soon discovered that the Mogs had twelve players; unfortunately 1 was in Tadworth expecting to be playing there. After a frantic phone call from Lothar to Action Jackson, the decision was made that Matt would step down and allow Stuart to play (once he had made the journey from Tadworth - where there was a fantastic BBQ occurring!!).</p>
<p>A somewhat surprised Tharpy was told that he was going to be skipper and proceeded to go and try to win our first toss in a while. Tharpy called tails, it came down heads (that's nine in a row now!!) and the oppo skipper, sporting a stupid Kevin Peitersen haircut, stated they would bat without a moment's hesitation.</p>
<p>The Mogs attack was opened by the Off Break Lewis and Briggsy who both bowled a very tight opening spell on a wicket which was offering no bounce or pace. Keith made the first breakthrough trapping the heavyweight opener lbw for 2. Next ball, the Ockham no 3 drove the ball straight back to Keith, who palmed the ball onto the stumps and ran out the backing up batsmen for 7. Two wickets in 2 balls, things were looking good. They were looking even better when Jimmy Honeyfield caught their no 4 batsmen off Keith for 5 runs, and Ockham were 24 for 3. What followed was a 110 run stand, and the Ockham no 3 showed he was in no mood to hang around, hitting the off break for 16 off one over. Joe was not quite able to take a return catch off the last ball, it lofted over his head and fell on the ground by the umpire, whilst Joe fell arse over tit much to his annoyance (you lucky ****** was heard to growled at the batsmen by the bowler!!) Keith was replaced by Jimmy Honeyfield, who proceeded to find the middle of the no 3's bat with regularity, going for 34 off his 2 overs (2 more than Furner went for off his 2 overs at Brook!!)</p>
<p>Tharpy decided that a double change was required at the drinks break, replacing Joe with Tina Turner, and Jimmy with himself. This seemed to slow the run rate down, and Tharpy got the breakthrough trapping the no 5 batsmen lbw for 27. Next ball he bowled the no 6 to be on his second hatrick in as many games, but was unable to achieve the feat. Turner then removed the Ockham no 3 for 92 (off 61 balls) and Ockham collapsed from 174-5 to 184 all out with Richie ending up with 4 wickets and Tharpy 3. A special mention must be given to Keith, or as he is now known, stunt man, for his acrobatic fielding at fine leg. Chasing a ball down to the boundary Keith stopped the ball just before crossing the line, unfortunately he couldn't avoid the table placed just behind the boundary, and in an attempt to jump it managed to do a double somersault with a full twist and land in a heap on the other side of the table.</p>
<p>The Mogs retired to the pavilion for an excellent tea of pizza, pasties, chicken nuggets, sandwiches and cake before venturing out to chase the total down. The team were surprised to learn that they would only have 1 hour and 20 overs to chase as that was the norm for village cricket. It meant that the Mogs had to score at around 6 and over to reach the target on a slow and low wicket.
Messer's Furner and Jackson strode out to the middle to be confronted by an all spin attack. This did not faze the intrepid batsmen, as they calmly went about their business and got to 50 off 11 overs. The next over Action Jackson was lbw for 25 which bought Ben Fairclough to the crease. Face Man found the going rather difficult and was eventually bowled off an inside edge for 6 at the beginning of the 20 overs (off 20 balls!!). 114 needed of 19 overs. Richard Moss joined Furner and the pair added a valuable 28 runs in 5 overs, Richard unfortunately run out by Furner who was looking to increase the run rate. (Mossy did advise those on the boundary that Furner had reminded Richard that he wasn't backing up the ball before!!) The loss of Richard bought El Presidente to the crease, and straight back again as he was bowled 1st ball. This left the Mogs with 86 runs to win, and 14 overs left to get them. Richie Turner survived the hatrick ball, and along with Yoda managed to keep the scoreboard ticking over without taking any undue risks. They had taken the score onto 135 when, rather contentiously, Peter was adjudged lbw for 63, although a few of the watching Mogs had heard the inside edge from the boundary. Unfortunately Mr Ben Fairclough hadn't and Peter was on his way back to the pavilion.</p>
<p>That left the Mogs with 50 to win off 8 overs, Messer's Turner and Honeyfield at the crease. They took the score onto 168 when Jimmy was caught at long on for 8. 16 runs needed 20 balls left. Tharpy joined Turner and the pair knocked off the required runs with 6 balls left, Richie ending up on 48 not out. The Mogs enjoyed the hosts hospitality including a presentation of a plastic duck to the Chairman, and are now looking forward to the end of season finale against Headley, wanting to exact revenge for the 7 wicket thrashing they suffered earlier in the season.</p>
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