Lichfield Nomads Cricket Club : Match Reports 2004

Millner's one-man show blitzes Nomads.
A sparkling 126 not out from Millner, destroyed a quality Nomad's bowling attack as Church Eaton reached their target of 161 with 3 wickets and 6 overs to spare.

Nomads won the toss and batted first. A light shower just before the start of play had livened up the wicket and runs were not easy to come by. Heslington and Hussein opened the batting and Hussein soon departed for a duck followed by Heslington for 13. Moss and Pinfield then set about rebuilding the innings. Moss moved quickly to 36 before he was caught and bowled, driving powerfully back to the bowler, who took an excellent instinctive catch. Moss was replaced by Osborn who added 13. Fearon was next in and he and Pinfield started to build a partnership before Pinfield was out for 40. Doug Hemmings added a quick 9 runs before he was out and replaced by son Neil. The overs were counting down by now and Fearon was bowled by the left armer trying to force the pace. Graeme Coleman and Keith Greaves could only add singles as the Nomads went for it in the last over. Neil Hemmings was left not out on 13 with only one ball left of the regulation 40 overs.

Heslington and Fearon opened the bowling and bowled excellent line and length. They found the Church Eaton openers in a defensive mood and the runs were kept to a minimum. This all changed when Heslington picked up the first wicket and Millner came out to bat who soon got into his stride and started to garner the runs.
One Church Eaton batsmen was bowled round his legs by Doug Hemmings when the ball clipped the leg stump and dislodged a single bail. (Clearly seen by the report writer standing at short fine leg). In the ensuing mêlée of an attempted run, the batsman refused to believe he had been bowled and claimed that the 'keeper Osborn had dislodged the bail. The batsman stood his ground, the umpires discussed the incident and felt obliged to give him not out as neither had a good view of the incident. No harm was done as Hemmings had him caught behind after he had added two more runs.

Further incident ensued as Moss came into the attack and clung on to a missile of a return catch in the same manner as his own dismissal. This was unfortunately more painful as it became quickly apparent that he had broken and/or dislocated his finger. The home team's doctor, whose sense of fair play had earlier been questioned, re-located and strapped up the finger without fuss and advised a trip to casualty. X-Rays later showed a double break and the prospect of 4-6 weeks off for Moss. But given his previous record of playing with injuries it is highly unlikely he will be off that long.

By now the field was spread and Millner was marshalling the strike. He reached his century in style and then set himself the target of winning the match single-handedly.

With 12 runs to win, three wickets in hand and plenty of overs, Greaves tempted Millner to offer a solitary chance. He smashed the ball high to the mid wicket boundary, Fearon ran round and got both hands to it, high above his head but the chance didn't stick. Millner completed the victory with a totally dominant innings of 126 not out. The next highest score was a paltry 4.

On the day, a strong looking Nomads bowling attack was not good enough to get Millner out or the remaining batsmen at the other end. The total of 160 was probably 25 short of a winning target.