Lichfield Nomads Cricket Club : Match Reports 2003

Barton v Lichfield Nomads
Date: Sunday 27th July 2003.  Time: 2:30pm
Venue: Away, Barton (Grass).   Competition: Friendly - 40 Overs.
Result: Lost by 45 Runs
Conditions: Warm, sunny, breezy.
Toss: Lost
Match Report by: John Hoddy

Phil Higginson made his debut as captain in the always tough match local Derby against Barton. In a change from the usual declaration format, Barton opted to play a 40 over match and after winning the toss also decided to bat first. They made an impressive start capitalising on some short pitched bowling by opening pair Higginson and Hemmings reaching 46 off 7 overs. The introduction of Heslington saw a reduction in the run-rate and a couple of quick wickets from Heslington meant that the Nomads were well  in  the game with Barton at 51 for 3 off 12 overs. The introduction of Greaves also saw the batsmen bamboozled by the slowness of his bowling and Nomads pegged Barton back to 85 off 23 overs. Unfortunately the introduction of the Barton no5, Caswell, and no7, Challenor,  1st team additions, saw a rapid rise in the run rate with hard hitting off Hoddy and Fearon. Blackburn was unlucky to see Challenor dropped off his bowling, one of 3 dropped chances,  but he was soon out to an almost identical chance off Hemmings. Barton maintained their pressure and reached a score of 200-8 off the 40 overs.  

The opening duo of Gardner and Heslington saw Nomads off to a  good start with 37 off 10 overs before the wicket of Heslington fell to a top edge at square leg. The long-awaited return of Fearon was short-lived when he was caught at mid-on trying to force the pace. Another promotion up the order saw Hoddy come in and a good partnership (82) developed between him and Gardner. Asprey kept things tight at one end but Gardner in particular was able to take runs off the spinner, Carvell, including a 6 where the fielder fell over the boundary whilst catching the ball. At 124 off 28 overs, Nomads were still in with a chance of victory but Gardner then drove a firm shot back to the bowler who caught it well above his head. Hoddy was out soon after and then the innings collapsed from 132-4 to 138-9 in the space of 7 overs. Greaves and Pickering had a good last wicket stand of 17 to see up the 150 with Pickering running himself out on the last ball.

Barton                                                            

M Bird         ct Pickering      Heslington        23       
A Asprey     b                      Hemmings        21       
J Wright       ct Gardner        Heslington         3        
M Bennett    ct Hoddy          Heslington        3        
B Caswell    no                                            66       
M O’Brian   b                      Heslington        6        
S Challenor  ct Heslington     Hemmings        61       
S George     lbw                   Hemmings         0        
R Payne       ct Hemmings     Higginson         10       
K Fried      no                                            0        

Extras                                                               6        

Total                                                                200-8
                                                                                   

Nomads

Gardner            ct&b                Carval              87
Heslington        ct                     George             10
Fearon             ct                     Bennett 3
Hoddy              ct                     Carval              22
Hemmings        b                      Asprey             7
Weir                 b                      Carval              0
Higginson         ct                     Caswell            2
Blackburn         b                      Carval              0
Coleman           b                      Caswell            0
Pickering          run out                                      9
Greaves            not out                                      4
Extras                                                               11
                                                                                    Total                                                                155

Hemmings 8-1-29-3, Higginson 7-0-48-1
Heslington 8-2-20-4, Greaves 5-0-16-0                      
Hoddy 4-0-25-0, Fearon 5-1-40-0                             
Blackburn 3-0-20-0

S George 8-0-30-1, M Bennett 8-1-32-1,
A Asprey 8-1-23-1, J Carvell 8-0-46-4
M Bird 4-2-3-0, Caswell 4-0-12-2

Fall of wickets: 38(2), 42(3), 124(1), 132(4), 132(6), 133(5), 134(8), 135(9), 138(7),155(10)