Mogador Wanderers made the short trip to Leigh on Sunday, hoping to avenge the recent defeats over the last 3 years against one of the stronger teams we face. The usual pre-match lubrication was taken at The Seven Stars, and the team arrived at the picturesque ground ready to do battle, totally unaware of the heroics that were to follow.
Alex strode to the middle and duly won the toss and elected to field first in a 40 over game. The majority of the Mogs were well aware that the Leigh track had a reputation for being hard to score freely on, however what greeted them when they reached the middle could be described as a road. This was soon confirmed as both Jamie and Joe opened the attack and got good carry through to birthday boy Will "Colonel" Parker. What was also made obvious was that the outfield was like lightning and that once the ball beat the field it was not going to be stopped before the boundary.
The Leigh openers started positively and after 5 overs they were 46-0 and it was looking ominous. Joe managed to trap the Leigh skipper lbw for 18 in the 6th over, but the scoring rate was still well over 6 an over, and after a couple of expensive overs Leigh were 76-1 off 10. The unlucky Jamie was replaced by Andy Hoad who struck in his 1st over, Jamie taking a remarkable catch to dismiss the dangerous looking Hickman for 48. This bought Richard Slade to the crease and for the next 15 overs both batsmen took the attack to the Mogador attack, with both Andy Hoad and Mike Coxon bowling well but having no luck at all. Soon after the drinks Alex and Andy Tharp took up the attack, and Alex bowled a maiden and Andy took the number 3 batsmen's wicket in his first over to leave Leigh 158-3 after 26 overs. What followed was some very clean hitting from the Leigh batsmen, Richard Slade made a very good 68, and from the final 14 overs Leigh were able to score at over 8 and over and amass the daunting target of 272 from their allotted 40 overs. Alex was the pick of the bowlers, taking 3-39 off his 8 overs.
A lovely tea was partaken, and the Mogs all realised that it would take something special from the team to overhaul such an impressive total, but we were all unprepared for the heroics and excitement that was to follow. Yours truly has been privileged to witness some of the most memorable innings in recent Mogs history, Jamie's 150* last season springs to mind, but what occurred at on Sunday afternoon surely eclipses all that I have seen.
Abbott and Furner opened the innings and they set the tone with an opening partnership of 51 in less than 10 overs, and this was against one of the best opening bowlers we face all year. Darrell was 1st out for 32 in the 9th over, and Peter followed in the 13th over for 27, with the score 66-2. The rate required was almost 8 an over with 27 still remaining, and with Jimmy Honeyfield bowled by the Leigh leg spinner for 2 in the next over the chase was in danger of petering out.
Jamie Freeland joined Alex at the crease, and they set about getting the run chase back on track, and they did this magnificently, sharing a partnership of 142 in 19 overs. Jamie was the perfect foil to Alex, rotating the strike enabling Alex to unleash his full complement of shots, dispatching the ball to all parts of the Leigh ground. When Jamie was out for well made 42, the score was 208-4 and the Mogs still needed 65 off 7 overs.
Alex was now seeing the ball very well, and all the incoming batsmen wanted to do was give the strike to him. This they managed, however the wickets were falling too regularly, and 208-4 off 33 became 246-7 with three overs remaining and the rate was over 9 an over. Alex was still there, and along with Andy Hoad they were able to score 26 runs off the next 2 overs to get the scores level with 6 balls left. Job done many would say, however the first ball of the final over was a dot, and then 2 wickets in 2 balls meant that the Mogs still needed 1 off three. Mike Coxon safely negotiated the hat-trick ball and then with the keeper fumbling the ball, Alex called Mike through for the bye that won the game for the Mogs.
Alex's inning was legendary, he ended up with 123*, scored off only 78 balls and it included 19 fours and 2 sixes. Words cannot do justice to what was witnessed, however the consensus amongst the team and the large number of supporters was that this was one of the best knocks they have seen, and I for one cannot remember a more destructive and crucial innings. To play in a game where 545 runs were scored in 80 overs and to have every result possible with 2 balls remaining will be a memory that lasts with both teams for years to come.
The evening was topped off with a curry to celebrate Will Parkers 45th birthday, and it was made more special knowing the Mogs had pulled off one of their most memorable victories (I am sure a full curry report will follow from Colonel Cuzza himself).
Our thanks go again to Humph for scoring, to Keith for umpiring and to the many supporters who turned up; it really does make playing for the Mogs special.
Report by Andy Tharp
CURRY SECTION REPORT - 29TH MAY 2011
A Curry Call was issued on 14th May which would form the final part of the trilogy of leaving games (in the Epic tradition) to mark the departure of the great Mogador warrior Darrell Abbott down to the Antipodes. The previous two events were the official leaving drinks on 14th May at the Reigate Manor Hotel and the recovery of the Matthew Lewis Trophy at Merstham on 22nd May. The final event was intended to be held after the destruction of Leigh, who for a number of recent years have dominated the Mogs, and it was, coincidentally, also the occasion of the official arrival into Middle Age of MWCC Curry Secretary WGC Parker; being 45 years old - an age whereat youth can no longer be claimed by even the most enthusiastic believer.
After the game the Mogs were in a state of semi rapture having witnessed Captain Hewitt's awesome artillery barrage of shots which brought victory back to the club for the first time since 2007. Unfortunately, though, the key protagonists for the evening (the self same Captain and Darrell Abbot) were unable to attend the evening's festivities due to uxorial demands and so it was left to Vice Captain "Curried Egg" Tharp to lead the second phase of the evening (after some pleasant pints at Leigh's ground with our hospitable opponents) whereby a 13 strong raiding party descended upon the Venture Inn to warm up for main event. It's proximity to the curry house and the range of ales and lagers available have combined to give the Venture "most favoured boozer" status within the club and after a goodly intake the party retired to Golden Curry to celebrate the day's win and the great Mogs career of Darrell Abbott.
Having been advised of our arrival Mr Ahmed, the Dean of that great culinary cathedral, St. Golden of Curry, warmly greeted us and we were shown to our table. The Curry Secretary noted that when he had last been in a couple of weeks previously, showing some Irish clients of his what a proper curry was like, the Balti Chilli Chicken Bhuna (Vindaloo Hot) had not been particularly spicy and so Mr Ahmed ensured a more fiery dish was served up on this occasion. A healthy quantity of Kingfisher was consumed and, very satisfactorily, the amount of food left on the table after we had feasted was very minimal. We were honoured to have amongst us, this time as one of our own, Reigate Priory's Captain from last year, who featured in last year's classic frozen pudding showdown, crushing our own Captain Hewitt in a hands free consumption contest. Inevitably he ordered a frozen pudding for the Curry Secretary to consume which he duly did, but at a totally pedestrian rate to that with which "Mango Kulfi" Hoad saw off Hewitt in last year's shootout. Vice Captain Egg (of the bald pate) thanked everyone for attending and proposed the health of the elderly Curry Secretary who, also Egg Like, responded in kind and thanked the gathered Mogs and WAGS for all their friendship and for many fantastic shared times over the last 20 years. A valedictory round of Sambuccas was consumed and the gathered guests retired home happy and in various states of inebriation. (Please see attached photograph of an emotional Sister Sag Aloo returning to the Golden Curry Convent in her taxi ordered by Mother Superior Jennifer who was worried that Sister SA might not be up in time for Matins!)
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