Lichfield Nomads Cricket Club : Match Reports 2003

Essington and Great Wyrley 145 for 6 off 40 Overs (Heslington 2-20, Greaves 2-27, Woodhouse 59*)
Lichfield Nomads 97 all out (Pinfield 18, Hoddy 14*,Baker 3-12, Maitland 2-8, Leach 2-21)

After Trentside had pulled out of the fixture “quaking in their cricket boots” apparently, Essington & Great Wyrley filled the otherwise endless void of a Sunday afternoon. E & GW are a strong side, playing league cricket and, understandably, proved too much for the Nomads, with solid batting and tight, accurate bowling.
E & GW captain elected to bat after winning the toss. Heslington, fresh back from his Balearic sojourn opened up, but was struggling with a stiff neck acquired “in bed, on holiday” (enquiries are continuing!). At the other end, Hemmings couldn’t get to grips (pun) with his newly (two minutes before the start) screwed in rubber studs and trotted off after his first over to replace his footwear. Both openers began to settle down to some steady overs, with Heslington removing the uneasy Edwards. The E & GW batsmen did not look unduly troubled but they were struggling to push the score along at the pace they had expected and Woodhouse, in particular, let out several cries of annoyance as his inability to time his shots. Hemmings removed Smith, before Cartwright had Fletcher smartly caught by Heslington in his first over. Forster suffered a freakish accident to a finger on his bowling hand, somehow getting it trapped between a fiercely struck ball and his kneecap, leaving him unable to bowl, fortunately, this week, Nomads were blessed with an array of fine bowlers for him to choose from. By now Coleman was weaving his magic and suffering from some bad luck as Cartwright put down a chance that he would have gobbled up on most days. Greaves tantalised the batsmen with a mixture of devilish flight and “pace” and picked up two late wickets, so by the end of their 40 overs E & GW had only reached 145. Nomads had bowled and fielded well against a good side and must have thought they were in with a chance.

After tea Gardner and Hussein continued their successful opening partnership but both were subdued by accurate bowling. Forster had quickly got into his stride as umpire, no-balling the petulant Leach on six occasions in his first two overs and awarding two further wides. This kept the score moving, despite runs from the bat being hard to come by. Gardner, in particular was finding life difficult, before being bowled off his pads. Hussein, who was just getting into his stride, and Heslington, still struggling with his neck, both fell with the score on 26, before Pinfield and Hemmings began to pull things round with a stand of 27, including one massive pull by Hemmings for six, off Waller. E &GW fielding was sharp, backing up their bowlers well and runs just would not come as Nomad wickets continued to fall steadily, once more seven being bowled. It was clear Nomads were not going to reach their target when Greaves joined Hoddy at the wicket in a last, desperate gamble. Greaves looked prepared to run off anything, making two darts down the wicket from balls that dropped at his feet, with the fielder only five yards away, before he ran himself out in comedy fashion, tearing down the wicket shouting “yes” repeatedly as Hoddy stood his ground at the other end!

Nomads were not disgraced by this defeat and should take heart from a sound bowling performance and were only undone by the accuracy of the opposition’s, more experienced attack (and maybe their own tendency to let the ball hit their stumps!)