Lichfield Nomads Cricket Club : Match Reports 2003

Highcroft Great Barr Unity v Lichfield Nomads
Date: Sunday 14th September 2003.  Time: 1:30pm
Venue: Away. Competition: Friendly - 40 Overs. 8 overs max.
Result: Lost by 4 wickets
Conditions: Stunningly hot considering it’s the middle of September
Toss: Won
Umpires: Forster and others.
Scorers: Hemmings, Moss
Match Report by: Dave Forster

Nomads travelled to Highcroft needing to win their final two matches. Hopes were high that a strong batting and bowling line up would get them to within one win of the fabled “Captain’s Curry”. Unfortunately Highcroft had not read the script and brought along a strong team too, which grew in size from it’s initial nine, over the first few overs.
Forster showed his experience with the toss and, after omitting to call at the first attempt, changed from his usual “tails” for the second and elected to bat.
Gardner and Moss enjoyed some friendly bowling from Coombs as the score reached 38 from the first 5 and Nomads were looking keen. However, the Highcroft captain removed Nomads’ favourite bowler from the attack and the scoring rate began to fall as Millard and Parry found a good line and length. Gardner was not his usual fluent self and was struggling to move the score along, eventually being bowled for 10, by the pacy Sturmie, 54 for 1. Moss and Heslington continued to push the score along steadily, but at 83, Moss dragged one onto his stumps. Pinfield looked good with 10 from six balls when he missed one down leg which flicked the top of the stumps, 104 for 3. Hussein, having a disappointing run since his sojourn in France, began to pick up the pace, but with the score on 163 Heslington was unlucky to be stumped in unusual circumstances; having missed the ball, himself, the keeper also failed to hold it but it dribbled off the keepers pads the six yards to the stumps and dislodged a bail, with Heslington rooted on the edge of his crease. Hussein perished shortly afterwards, Parry’s pace again being a little too sharp. Fearon and Hemmings made every effort to raise the 200 but they fell short by a mere 9.

Highcroft’s opener Ellerman claiming to be 14, but looking several years younger played some classic strokes, racing to 19 before Hemmings unleashed a couple of stunning yorkers to remove his middle stump, with the second. Lambeth and Sturmey kept well up with the rate, crashing boundaries regularly as Nomads bowlers struggled to keep the runs down, only Hemmings seemed to make them struggle yet still went for four an over. A good catch from Greaves and another by Gardner, running a half marathon to take a catch which, without his sharp call, could have wiped out half the Nomads team, converging on a ball carrying the tail fin of one of the many passing planes, even Pickering had a chance, loping in from deep long on! A distinctly questionable decision left Millard at the wicket after he had scored only a few, the ball appeared to take an edge, be knocked up by Gardner and caught just above the ground by Forster, diving forwards at slip, however he survived to punish Nomads bowlers along with the powerful Sturmey. Eventually Moss tempted Sturmey to advance just a little too far as he “cleverly” pushed a wide one through to Gardner who whipped off the bails in classic fashion (and demolished the wicket at the same time). There was just time for Moss to run out Hussain backing up at the bowlers end as Millard smashed the ball just a little too straight and for Heslington to strike to give Nomads a glimmer, but it was left to the (fortunate) Millard to strike the winning runs in the 33^rd over.

 Considering the strong opposition, Nomads had made a big effort to reach a very respectable total, a little more luck in the field with Moss and Greaves both getting hands to difficult chances could have a big difference to the result but overall Nomads could console themselves in the knowledge that they lost to a better side. Next year, a hearing aid for the umpire might do the job!