Lichfield Nomads Cricket Club : Match Reports 2002

Another superb all-round performance saw the Nomads win their 11th game of the season. Helped by an extended rain break, which put the brakes on the Great Barr Unity reply. Mal Pinfield starred with the bat, making 62 and Keith Greaves was the top bowler taking 5-22.
Nomads batted first and Hoddy experimented with the batting order, opening with Hussein and himself. Great Barr opened with two slow spinners and both opening batsmen found it tricky to get into their stride. Hoddy was dismissed first for 0. Fearon struck a few lusty blows before being caught at square leg for 14. Hussein then fell for 10. Pinfield and Gardner built the main partnership of the innings putting on 82 before Gardner was bowled for 28 attempting to pull a short pitched straight delivery. Forster (17) added some useful runs with debutant Moore (11) but the tail couldn't raise the tempo and with wickets in hand what might have been 210 ended as 187 for 8 off 40 overs.
Hoddy opted for pace down the hill and spin up the hill as Heslington and Forster opened the bowling. Heslington bowled a poor first over, as he struggled to come to terms with the pot holed run-up, but recovered well to bowl a good spell without reward. Forster was more accurate and had the batsmen in trouble removing opener Sturmey (G) for 9 but Guest took him on and hit 3 sixes to the long on boundary and was looking like winning the match on his own.
Then came the rain break as the heavens opened and the players sought shelter in the scorer's hut. At this point Great Barr were 57 for 1 off 10 overs, ahead of the rate with plenty of wickets in hand.
When the match resumed Hemmings bowled with pace and grabbed two wickets including Sturmey (I) for 32. Greaves took over from the farmer's field end and took a wicket with his first ball, he then took two wickets in his second over and the Great Barr Unity batting was starting to feel the strain despite being well up with the rate. With the light starting to fade, Nomads were keen to finish them off early. Fearon was introduced and had the useful looking Kirk caught behind by Gardner for 18 and then saw chances dropped, fall short and fly over the slips. Greaves picked up the last two wickets to bag a match winning five wicket haul. Nomads won by 60 runs with 8 overs remaining.