Lichfield Nomads Cricket Club : Match Reports 2005

Sutton on the Hill (243 for 4) v Lichfield Nomads (139 for 6)

Lichfield Nomads worked hard to achieve a draw against the odds after Sutton had scored an impressive 243 for 4. Milnes scored a quickfire century and opener Duffill scored 54 to post an imposing total of 243 for 4 and give them the luxury of declaring 15 minutes early, after only 35 overs. A vital 7th wicket partnership between Pete Gardner (47*) and John Hoddy guided the Nomads to safety after a rocky start had seen them reduced to 63 for 6. Sutton bowled 47 overs, including 24 in the last hour but Gardner and Hoddy held firm to hold out for a battling draw.

The Nomads opened the bowling with Fearon and Hoddy. The pair gave little away as Fearon had Ingley well caught by Graeme Blackburn with the score on only 6. This time the slower ball paid off!
Duffill and Milnes then slowly rebuilt the innings and after 11 overs they were 21 for 1. They started to bat with more confidence and authority and the run rate started to escalate quickly. They were particularly harsh on full tosses and anything short. One full toss from Fearon was caught by Blackburn but was rightly signalled as a no ball. The undulating outfield didn't help the Nomads cause as there were a host of misfields, dropped chances and minor injuries for several players. Hussein was particularly afflicted and lay prostrate after fearing a serious knee injury. Luckily he was OK and the batsmen did the gentlemanly thing and stopped running.
Milnes survived a plum lbw decision (unlike Pinfield in reply) and started to open the shoulders as the runs flowed. Fearon's first 6 overs went for 9 runs, his last 5 went for 50 including 16 off his last over. In similar fashion Hoddy's first four overs went for 3 runs and his last 5 went for 40. Milne was eventually out for 105 out of 158 with Graeme Blackburn taking a swirling catch, at the second attempt off his Dad's bowling. Pete Blackburn then ran out Milnes for 54, off his own bowling, after a mix up with Wenn. Wenn departed soon after, lbw to Blackburn for 13. Harding and Land (BD) continued to pile on the runs. Coleman and Greaves both suffered under the onslaught and Sutton declared 15 minutes early with the score on 243 for 4.

With the option of the draw available, the total seemed out of reach for the Nomads and so it proved as Hussein and Fearon both fell quickly to Milnes bowling from the pavillion end. Ashford was bowling his usual accurate spell and scoring opportunities were thin on the ground. Osborn played his natural game and had reached 19, including a six before he too was bowled by Milnes. A useful cameo saw Fuzz Weir score 11 and add 31 with Pinfield before Weir was bowled by Harding. Gardner batting at number six because of a bad back came to the crease to join Pinfield and the Nomads knew this would need to be a big partnership if the Nomads were going to salvage a draw. But Pinfield departed for a debatable lbw to Harding, courtesy of the Chairman's trigger after a half-hearted appeal by the bowler. Graeme Blackburn recorded a first ball duck playing an attacking shot when caution was called for.

Then came the match saving partnership between Gardner and Hoddy. They batted for almost 30 overs, with 24 overs being bowled in the last hour. Gardner gave one sharp chance, cutting straight to close point who failed to cling on to the catch. Apart from that the batsmen looked pretty comfortable. Sutton switched the bowlers and brought back the openers but they failed to break through. The attacking field meant that there were a few boundaries gathered near the end as Gardner almost reached his 50.

In the end a match that Sutton deserved to win but Nomads managed to get a draw. The plus points from the game were Graeme Blackburn's improved fielding and two catches. The tight spell by the opening bowlers early on. A good contribution from the skipper Blackburn, two wickets and a run out. Solid batting from Pinfield, Gardner and Hoddy, with Osborn and Weir chipping in.