Lichfield Nomads Cricket Club : Match Reports 2005

An under-strength Nomads put up a spirited performance against a strong Alveley side scoring 156 and eventually losing by 4 wickets with 2.2 overs to go.

The Nomads left Lichfield for the long trip to Alveley between Kidderminster and Bridgnorth with only 9 men, as Waite and Williamson failed to show up. A late call to Dan Moss boosted the side to 10 but he had only reached Wolverhampton by the time the match started. Blackburn won the toss and chose to bat. The outfield was damp after persistent overnight rain but the wicket had been covered and was in reasonable nick, if a little two paced.

Akin Hussein and Sos Hughes opened the batting and opening bowlers Vale and Powell were probably the quickest opening pair we had faced all season. Vale started with a few wides but soon found his range and removed Hughes for a duck. Hussein fell soon after to Powell and the Nomads were in trouble at 15 for 2. Fearon and Pinfield tried to consolidate, Fearon got off the mark with a powerful cover drive for 4. Powell was replaced by Reece who also bowled at a lively pace. Pinfield was garnering runs through the offside and had scored 14 when he played on to a wide delivery from Vale in the 15th over.
Moss joined Fearon and the pair batted with increasing confidence. Moss played some good looking shots including an exquisite drive through straight mid-off for 4 and a nice pull shot to the square leg boundary. Fearon was milking some short stuff from left armer Waldron who was struggling to find his rhythm and called for the sawdust. Youngster Webster also bowled too short and Fearon bagged several 4's to the fine leg boundary before claiming a deserved half-century, his first 50 for 2 years. Fearon was then put down by Powell at deep fine leg off Webster. The partnership had reached 82 and taken the score to 120 when Moss was bowled by Tudor. Hughes then departed for a single and Hoddy added 2. Graeme Blackburn hit a powerful shot to mid-wicket but the slow outfield meant that just 3 were added. He was then bowled by Tudor. Fearon followed shortly after, in the final over, for 70 runs and Blackburn and Coleman both got off the mark to bring the final score to 156 for 8.

Hughes and Hoddy opened the bowling and both bowled well. Skipper Blackburn keeping them both on for the maximum eight overs. Hughes made the breakthrough as Hussein took a good catch to dismiss Lewis. He then took a second wicket with his next delivery, a fine caught and bowled, diving forward and catching Butler one handed.
Fearon took over from Hughes and Coleman took over from Hoddy but after two overs of tempting flight he was replaced by Moss. Tudor and Goodman accumulated runs in a sensible manner and took the score to three figures. Fearon didn't have much luck and a close lbw appeal was dismissed. Blackburn took over from Fearon and immediately got the break through with the wicket of Tudor (26) caught by Hughes. Goodman was dismissed in the same over, this time caught by Hussein. Pinfield had been having a bad day in the field and this was compounded as he dropped a tricky skier from a loose shot by Powell off Blackburn.
Moss was bowling a more controlled line than usual, coupled with brisk pace, outswing and the darkening light, the batsmen were treating him with respect. He deservedly trapped Taylor leg before and was unlucky not to take further wickets. Blackburn then bagged his third wicket via a neat stumping from Hoddy who had took over the gloves from Moss at the 20 overs drinks break.
Powell then took control of the situation and swung the game in Alveley's favour with some aggressive hitting and lightening running between the wickets. As we found out in The Royal Oak afterwards, he also talks a good game. Nomads needed to get Powell off the strike or bag some quick wickets but neither event happened.
Two huge straight sixes off Blackburn brought victory in sight and Fearon returned to complete his spell in the dusky conditions. Powell confidently struck the required runs, almost dissecting Graeme Blackburn in the process and Alveley had defeated the Nomads by 4 wickets with 2.2 overs to spare.

All in all a brave performance from an understrength Nomads side, missing the likes of Gardner, Forster, Heslington and Osborn to name but a few. The 10 Nomads that did take the field put up a brave fight and at 15-2 could easily have crumbled but made Alveley work all the way for their victory.