Lichfield Nomads Cricket Club : Match Reports 2002

The Nomads won a close game against Beau by 12 runs. Nomads struggled to 132 for 5 off 40 overs after some tight bowling by the Beaudesert bowlers. Heslington performed the sheet anchor role, occupying the crease for 32 overs for his 31 runs. Pinfield added some much needed impetus with a lively 33 runs. The bowlers were on top and boundaries were hard to come by as the outfield was unusually slow after heavy rain the day before. The Nomads middle order of Fearon (6*) , Grewer and Higginson (5*) had to run some aggressive singles to help supplement the total. Grewer sacrificed himself to the cause, run out for 5.

With less than three and a half runs per over needed it was clear that the Nomads had to bowl out the opposition. Beau began cautiously as Fearon and Heslington both found the right line and length and applied pressure to the Beau openers. Heslington bowled Parker and Fearon bowled Sos Hughes. Greaves was unlucky as he had Gallier dropped and then Hesletine mistimed one that spooned up into the air and just fell out of the fielders reach. Greaves (1-24) eventually got the wicket he deserved when he had Gallier caught at point by Higginson. The returning Cartwright (1-28) picked up the wicket of Bates to end a promising partnership with Heseltine. Forster then grabbed 2-11 and Higginson picked up 2-25 including Heseltine for 44. It was left to Heslington and Fearon to bowl out the final overs. Beau needed 23 off four overs with 2 wickets remaining. Elson (29) took responsibility with some confident hitting and refused a single off the second last ball of the penultimate over to make sure he had the strike for the last over. This meant they needed 14 off the last over. Elson refused singles off the first three balls and Fearon was harshly adjudged to have bowled a wide outside the off stump. This only served to annoy the bowler who promptly clean bowled Elson to give the Nomads victory by 12 runs. Heslington finished with 1-15 and Fearon 3-13 to complete a satisfying win over Beaudesert.