Lichfield Nomads Cricket Club : Match Reports 2001

For the second week running the Nomads went right to the wire and lost. The margin this time was 1 wicket. Nomads set a reasonable target of 156 on a slow wicket and even slower outfield, after heavy rain over the weekend. Some below par bowling, dropped catches, untidy fielding and controversial umpiring meant that Norton Selly Oak just got home with plenty of overs but only one wicket to spare.
Nomads won the toss and elected to bat. The innnings began at a manic pace as Heslington and Fearon took the attack to the Norton bowlers. But once Fearon was out, clipping a leg side delivery straight to square leg, much of the impetus was lost. Heslington and Pinfield then built a good partnership and later on Pinfield and McGuinness added valuable runs together. Rowland and Forster then steered the Nomads to a respectable 155 for 6 off the allotted 40 overs. An early strike by Heslington was not repeated as Ahmed and Williams laid the foundations for a serious assault on the required total. At 145 for 6 Norton looked set for victory but some crucial wickets were compounded by what must be a record 15 wides and sloppy fielding. The last pair came together with 3 required for victory and the drama was magnified as Hoddy got the batsman to play on only to see the ball fail to dislodge the bails. The winning run could have resulted in a run out but even that proved beyond the Nomads and Smith and Thomas crossed to huge cheers from the travelling crowd on the boundary