Lichfield Nomads Cricket Club : Match Reports 2004

Nomads prevail in exciting finish

Lichfield Nomads won the closest game of the season in the last over with the final pair at the crease. Pete Blackburn scored a personal best 23 not out and hit the winning runs, crashing the ball for four to mid-on, to a chorus of cheers from the clubhouse.

Blythe Bridge were put in by skipper Forster and were quickly off to a flyer reaching 50 without loss off the first 10 overs. The openers were batting aggressively and Heslington and Fearon had no luck as the Vikings built a solid foundation for a big score despite the slow wet outfield. The introduction of Hemmings Senior and Junior saw the match swing in the Nomads favour as the run rate slowed and wickets began to tumble. D. Walton fell for 29 and A. Wheston fell for 28. Neil Hemmings picked up four wickets and Doug Hemmings claimed one although a chance for a second wicket was put down at fine leg by son Neil. "Stop his pocket money" came the cry.
The Blythe Bridge middle order was a mixture of junior players, a girl and some senior players and they all found the runs much harder to come by.
Dave Forster picked up a handy 3 wickets including an excellent caught and bowled that was fired straight back at him with some pace. Hughes was unrewarded and Blackburn claimed the other wicket with a stumping off the last ball of the match. The Blythe batting had kept going for the allotted 40 overs but the 131 was much less than looked on the cards.
Gardner and Doug Hemmings opened the innings and Hemmings fell to a blinding catch at point off the bowling of Boulton. Gardner quickly followed caught behind, again off Boulton. Fearon and Hussein endeavoured to survive and see off the openers but Fearon was undone by one that reared off a length, hit his shoulder, looped over his head and hit the stumps, toppling the bails (just). Heslington also had his share of bad luck as a lusty blow to mid wicket held up in the wind and was spectacularly caught by the fielder running round the boundary. At 16 for 4 the Nomads were in big trouble but Ted Osborne struck out in a bid to turn the tide. He scored a rapid 27 but one top edge too many saw the end of a vital partnership as Nomads advanced to 52 for 5. Neil Hemmings came to the crease and joined Akin Hussein. Hussein was clearly out of touch but battled to keep his wicket and regain his timing. The unusual sight of a female bowler only added to the pressure as Hussein was bowled for 9 by Walton. Hughes followed for a duck and Nomads were 61 for 7. Another substantial partnership was needed and Forster joined Hemmings at the crease and the pair set about the Blythe bowling with gusto. They had taken Nomads to three figures and had brought the asking rate down to three an over when Hemmings was bowled for 24. Forster was joined by Blackburn and the pair seemed intent on seeing it through to the end. But just as the Blythe total was in sight Forster was bowled by one that turned from outside leg and he was dismissed for a vital 27. The frustration was there for all to see as Forster realised the job was still not done. 'Dancing' Dave Pickering came to the crease in increasingly murky conditions. The Nomads were huddled round the pavilion trying to avoid the chilly wind and the tension was electric. Blythe unleashed a quicker bowler to try and blast out the Nomads tail but Pickering was resolute and scrambled a couple of singles. Eventually two runs were needed off the final over with Blackburn on strike. The first was a dot ball and the second was thumped to the wide mid-on boundary for four to seal a memorable victory.

Many admirable performances from the Nomads. With the ball Neil Hemmings' 4 wickets and Forster's three wickets were the pick. With the bat Ted's 27 stopped the rot and brought the required rate within reach. Neil Hemmings' (24) and Dave Forster (27) added a vital stand of 40. Pete Blackburn (23*) added 25 with Forster. Dave Pickering held out to keep his wicket intact to enable Blackburn to hit the winning runs.

MVP - Snapper 6, Neil 5