Lichfield Nomads Cricket Club : Match Reports 2003

Lichfield Nomads v Walsall Health
Date: Sunday 29th June 2003.  Time: 2:30pm
Venue: Home   Competition: Friendly - 40 Overs.
Result: Tie
Conditions: Distinctly warm
Toss: Lost
Scorer: Hoddy
Umpires: Jennett et al
Match Report by: Dave Forster.

Despite losing the toss, Nomads got what they wanted and opened with Gardner and Hussein. The Walsall bowling was tight with both openers extracting some swing and scoring steadied at around three an over. Both openers eventually fell to catches at fine leg, Hussein first, with the score on 66, then Gardner at 69. Although the bowling was sometimes wayward, by now (19 being scored in wides) Nomads again contrived to get themselves out, first Pinfield and then Higginson (first ball) hitting powerful shots straight at fielders at 75 for 3 then 75 for 4 and things were beginning to look a little shaky. Hemmings first of all supported the redoubtable Heslington in steadying the ship, then began to hit out strongly before being bowled for 23, 118 for 5. Forster struck quickly but lasted only 8 balls for his 10 before being just run out by a direct hit from short square leg, going for a crazy leg bye, 143 for 6. Heslington was by now blazing away scoring 25 from his last 15 balls and with Hoddy in tow, raised the Nomads score to 163 for 6. Quite a comeback after being only 91 after 30 overs, and the returning openers, after going for only 30 from 11 overs conceded another 38 from their last five.
Although Forster was turning the ball, the right-left opening pair unsettled his line as they cross-batted to the boundary and the Walsall opening stand soon reached 50. However, Hoddy was by now weaving his magic, taking 4 wickets as they went from 53 for 0 to 69 for 5, Higginson taking the other, and Nomads seemed to be in control. However Oliver was beginning to get into his stride. Hemmings was having difficulty controlling his swing. Even at full length Gardner behind the stumps  couldn’t reach them and Blackburn at deep fine leg was having trouble, so the Walsall total began to rise ominously. Good spells from Blackburn and Heslington went unrewarded and Nomads heads began to fall. In desperation Hemmings went back to his long run as only 7 were needed from four overs with 4 wickets left. Suddenly things began to go Nomad’s way as Hemmings' line and length began to cause confusion. Two wickets from the fourth and sixth balls of the 38^th over put the pressure on, Heslington bowled a tight 39^th but couldn’t prevent Walsall bringing the scores level, then Hemmings roared in for the 40^th. The ninth wicket fell to his second ball and by the fourth it was all over as the last batsman snicked a faint but very audible catch to Gardner.
So Nomads recovered to achieve what had seemed like a very unlikely tie, with several excellent performances. Gardner and Hussein were again amongst the runs, Heslington hit an excellent 43 not out (that’s 119 unbeaten in two weeks) and Hemmings equalled his highest score. Nomad’s recovery, scoring 72 from the last 10 shows what they’re capable of. On the bowling front, Hoddy destroyed the top order and Hemmings annihilated the lower. Greaves showed his mettle by pouching three good catches. Overall Nomad’s never-say-die attitude saw them achieve something from the match, when all seemed lost.