Lichfield Nomads Cricket Club : Match Reports 2006

Nomads fall short at Wall
A spirited last wicket partnership of 25 between Graham Coleman and Dave Pickering was not enough to prevent Lichfield Nomads losing by 7 runs to Wall. Wall scored 120 runs and the Nomads could only make 113 all out.
Skipper Blackburn won the toss and chose to field in order to get a good look at the wicket and to know what we needed to do when batting second.
Heslington opened the bowling and saw a regulation chance to fine leg put down by Pickering off the second ball of the innings. Heslington's luck was not in today as he failed to take a wicket, despite looking dangerous and bowling an accurate spell of five overs for only six runs. Forster made the breakthrough thanks to a sharp stumping by Gardner to remove Birch. He played on bravely despite breaking his bowling hand again. A widish Forster delivery was despatched to the boundary and the new 'cherry' disappeared down a rabbit hole to be replaced by a softer spare, much to the bowler's chagrin. Fearon took over from Heslington at the Pavillion end and he removed Dyche lbw with a straight full toss. Ian Hughes then upped the tempo, batting confidently to compile the day's highest innings on either side. He struck Fearon for a four and a six before being bowled next ball by a yorker for 33. (His highest score for the Nomads is 21) George had Craig caught by Sos Hughes and later bowled Venables.
New 'signing' Brannigan was showing his rustiness, having not played for six years. He bowled some beamers, long hops and short stuff. But began to get his eye in and generate some useful pace. The batsmen were rattled  and sent for the helmets, as tempers became frayed in the heat. Brannigan removed Assad, caught by Forster at second slip after an astute change of field by Blackburn. Dawson showed some lower order resistance and scored 18 useful runs before he was caught by Brannigan off the bowling of Coleman. Sos Hughes kept a cool head to throw to bowler Blackburn to run out Clarke to bring the Wall innings to a close for 120 runs. Not a big total but enough to win most recent matches between the two sides.

The consensus was that if the Nomads could bat the full 40 overs, we would win. But with a tricky pitch and without the likes of Pinfield, Caygill, Hussein, Moss, Osborn and Hoddy, that was going to be easier said than done.
The innings didn't get off to the best start with in-form Heslington departing for 2 with the score on 11. Wall were keeping it simple, bowling their in-swingers up the hill and away swingers down the hill to protect the short boundary to the hedge. Fearon was struck in the chest, trying to pull a short one but stayed focused to try and eke out some runs with out of sorts Gardner. Fearon was waiting for the chance to return the compliment and try and hit Hughes for a six. But the Wall captain refused to bring him on early as 'he wanted to keep it tight'. He had hit 4 fours and scored 19 in a partnership of 34 before he was bowled by Churchill, who was generating good away swing in the humid conditions. Churchill produced a match winning spell to turn the match in Wall's favour. Sos Hughes joined Gardner and scored 4 before being caught. Graeme Blackburn went lbw for a duck. Steve George got one that popped up and dollied a catch to Ian Hughes and Gardner battled on gamely before being caught behind for 11 to be Churchill's fifth victim. The Nomads were in big trouble at 56 for 6. Dan Brannigan and Dave Forster added a vital 25 runs to put the Nomads back in the game before Brannigan was bowled by Ali for a promising 15. Dave Forster was then caught by Clarke for 3 and Pete Blackburn was also caught for 2, leaving the Nomads on 88 for 9. Graham Coleman and Dave Pickering battled to survive the full quota of overs but could only accumulate at two runs an over, most of those being extras, despite pleas from the boundary to get on with it. The Nomads needed a boundary or two to take the pressure off. It seemed that we had no chance, as quick singles were spurned and attacking shots were at a premium. With one over to go 10 runs were needed. Extras reduced this to 8 off 5 balls but Coleman was run out trying to get the strike and Wall squeaked home to win by 7 runs.