Lichfield Nomads Cricket Club : Match Reports 2004

The Nomads sign-off with a defeat
Lichfield Nomads lost their final game of the 2004 against a strong Essington side by six wickets.
Nomads posted a disappointing 61 all out (Hughes 12*, N. Hemmings 11) and Essington cruised to victory for the loss of 4 wickets.

Captain Forster lost the toss on his last match in charge and was inserted by the opposition on a damp, drying wicket. This was arguably the turning point of the match as the Essington bowlers exploited the conditions and the Nomads batsmen displayed a mixture of ill-fortune and ineptitude.

The opening pair of Doug Hemmings and Paul Fearon coped for the first three overs at least as the Essington openers bowled several wides and bad balls that were despatched with ease. They had put on a rapid 19 off 17 balls when Baker bowled a wide delivery that lifted and Hemmings edged to the slips for an easy catch. Fearon fell first ball of the next over driving a half volley low to the bowlers left hand who clutched the catch and managed to keep the ball up as he fell to the ground.
At 19 for 2, the match took on a different complexion entirely but who better to have at the crease than Pinfield and Gardner. The scoring rate dried up completely as the Nomads desperately tried to salvage the innings. It wasn't until the xx over that the Nomads doubled their score after 3 overs.

With only 62 required and no sign of the tea, Essington took to the field immediately. Opener Neil Hemmings struck straight away to remove Fletcher without troubling the scorer. But Essington survived until tea without further loss of wickets.

After tea Forster and Hemmings persevered, the captain soon removed Kirk caught by Neil Hemmings at square leg and Essington were 23 for 2. Hemmings struck again bowling S. Kirk to make the score 25 for 3 and a glimmer of hope as the Nomads were at least making a fight of it. Smith and Edmunds then played sensibly to stop the rot and accumulate runs at the crease. There were plenty of overs left and they took their time against accurate bowling from the Nomads openers.

Hemmings came into the attack despite a slight muscle strain picked up when batting but Smith in particular enjoyed driving to mid-off. He found the gaps and helped the score tick over.

Fearon came into the attack and in his second over tried his slow delivery but it turned into a friendly leg-side full toss which Edmunds struck for a six. The next ball was quicker and pitched up and Edmunds (9) miss hit the ball straight to mid-wicket where Pinfield took the catch. Essington were reduced to 54-4 but victory was firmly in their sights.

Pinfield came on and administered the last rites. Teasing the batsmen with his loopers, before a clip to mid-wicket sealed victory for Essington and Great Wyrley with 18.1 overs to go.

The Nomads retired to The Why Not public house in the village to mull over a poor performance and a season that had produced some memorable matches and performances but perhaps wasn't seen as a vintage year. Injuries and the unavailability of key players probably left the Nomads a bit threadbare in the batting and seamer departments at times.