Mugochi century Brightons day as Totton & Eling tie another match
Southern Premier/Div One
Calmore Sports 173
Totton & Eling 173
CALMORE Sports CC’s Ben Johns was run out trying for the winning run in a thrilling derby against Totton & Eling which ended with the visitors claiming their second tied match in three weeks.
The majority of Southern Premier Cricket League matches were called off thanks to the wet weather but this match went ahead and spectators were rewarded with a stunning all-round display by Zimbabwean Brighton Mugochi who hit a century and claimed four wickets at Loperwood Park.
After winning the toss, Calmore elected to field first. The decision looked a sound one when openers Oliver Thomas and Harrison Clarke were dismissed with both players having scored four runs. Thomas left the crease first after being bowled LBW by Yannick De Mezieres Lepervanche, and Clarke was bowled by Ben Fisher leaving Totton on 16-2.
The next wicket was Jimmy Taylor who was caught by James Hibberd off a De Mezieres Lepervanche ball with his run tally also standing at four.
His dismissal brought Brighton Mugochi (111) to the crease which signalled the start of a superb batting display. However, with his run total standing at 12, he dollied up an easy catch to mid-wicket where James Hibberd was unable to hold on to the ball, which landed agonisingly by his feet.
“It was an absolute sitter, but these things happen,” Calmore skipper Mark Lavelle said after the match.
“Hibbo suggested his dropped catch (off Mugochi) had made a game of it, but I’m not sure I viewed it quite like that.”
Mugochi proceeded to pummel the bowling to all parts of the tree-lined ground, with Cooks Lane particularly popular.
He smashed seven huge sixes and 11 fours in an impressive 111 off 69 balls, scoring 54 of the 59-run last-wicket ‘partnership’ with last man Matt Graves, who failed to get off the mark. The other five were extras. Mugochi was eventually superbly caught-and-bowled by James Manning.
With 173 to chase, the first Calmore wicket to fall belonged to Max Bailey (5) who was caught LBW by Peruzi (1-14). The next four wickets were all taken by Mugochi (4-42); Sam Moss (27) and Hibberd (5) were caught by Taylor and Clarke respectively to leave the home side on 91-3. Then James Manning (2) and Fisher (25) were both bowled before Ben Johns (81) was run out by Peruzi while attempting a second single in a brave bid to win.
Lavelle added: “It was a very good knock, once again, from Ben. We timed it almost perfectly, keeping wickets in hand.
“Fair play to Jimmy and their guys, they could have easily walked off the field during 20 minutes of drizzle. They played on through the wet when the run rate was in their favour. Like us, they have missed so much cricket this season; they just wanted to get a game in.
“Credit to the umpires Sean Lilley and Bob Marchant, who stood out in unpleasant conditions throughout the afternoon and evening.”
Next week, third-placed Calmore Sports host second-placed Bashley at the Calmore Sports Cricket Club, while fifth-place Totton & Eling take on seventh-placed South Wilts.
