Lichfield Nomads Cricket Club : Match Reports 2004

Nomads win after exciting finish.
In a rare time match, the Nomads prevailed in a tense finish against Olton and West Warwickshire. Forster's decision to bat on after tea worked out perfectly as the Nomads posted 176 for 7 and bowled out the opposition for 99 with just 7 balls to spare.

This was the weekend that Arsenal won the league without losing a game and the Baggies secured promotion back to the Premiership. The Nomads were asked to bat first on a balmy April afternoon in Olton. Gardner and Heslington were as reliable as ever, they were circumspect against the good ball and merciless against the bad. The outfield was lush and judging the running was tricky, as balls that should have gone for four didn't.

The pair had added 65 when a steepling chance was not only dropped but hit the fielder on the top of the head and he had to leave the field with mild concussion. This disturbed the batsmen's concentration and Gardner fell for 31 bowled by the solitary quick Plaistow. Ted Osborn came in at three and he immediately looked to take the initiative but was caught tamely off the bowling of Plaistow. Pinfield joined Heslington and he called him for a suicidal run that left Pinfield yards short of his crease and out for a duck without facing a ball. Hemmings came in at 5 and Heslington fell almost immediately, going for 26 off the bowling of Dantor (S), perhaps troubled by the earlier run out.

Fearon joined Hemmings with the innings in danger of going off the rails at 74 for 4. The two soon struck up a promising partnership with plenty of crisp blows as well as scampering some quick ones and twos. Hemmings was driving well and moving his feet to the spinners. Fearon played a couple of nice sweep shots on one knee and clipped a leg side delivery to fine leg for a memorable four. The pair had added 42 when Hemmings was dismissed for 21, stumped for the second week in a row.

Fuzz Weir came in at seven and kept the momentum going by adding 26 with Fearon.
Fearon then fell chasing a wide one, which he mis-timed to Plaistow in the covers, for 23. Weir then departed for 10 and Forster and Coleman eked out another 34 runs in 13 overs having batted on for nearly 15 minutes after the 4:30pm cut-off.

An excellent tea punctuated the innings with plus marks for the fresh salad and hot chips and minus marks for the small volume of tea.

Heslington and Osborn opened the bowling and runs were at a premium from the off, as Olton crept to 8-0 off 8 overs. The introduction of the magician (otherwise known as Keith Greaves) saw the opening partnership broken as he tempted Dunoyer (2) to find Pinfield who gratefully took the catch. Dantor (B) fell in similar fashion for 5, caught by Heslington off Greaves. Coleman replaced Greaves and bowled Saunders (9) first ball with a turner. Spowage and Jones added 20, with Spowage batting aggressively for 15 before being bowled by Forster.

Plaistow came to the crease and quickly dominated the strike to try and wrest the initiative and guide Olton to safety. Banzal was bowled by Forster for a duck. Fearon bowled Ducrois for 4 and Plaistow was beginning to run out of partners as he tried manfully to punish the bad ball and look to marshall the strike.

Forster brought back Hemmings and Heslington in a final push to get the victory and Heslington secured the edge from Plaistow and Gardner clutched onto the catch despite not taking it cleanly in both hands.

The tail was now exposed and Hemmings duly obliged getting Dantor to play on to secure the final wicket with just seven balls to play giving the Nomads victory by 77 runs.
 

Ducrois 8-2-18-1, Dunoyer 8-2-23-0
Dantor (S) 8-0-45-1, Plaistow 8-2-13-2
Mat 5-0-27-1, Dantor (B) 8-0-29-1
Williams 2-0-6-0, Spowage 2-0-6-0

Heslington 5-2-3-1, Osborne 4-2-3-0
Greaves 7-0-26-2,  Hemmings 5.5-2-7-1
Forster 8-0-11-3, Coleman 5-0-22-1
Fearon 6-1-10-1,   Pickering 2-0-12-0