Lichfield Nomads Cricket Club : Match Reports 2006

Nomads fall short against 8 man Church Eaton
The Nomads were beaten by a useful and youthful Church Eaton outfit, in a high scoring encounter at Barton. Despite the opposition arriving with only 8 men. The Nomads bowling was unusually wayward as Church Eaton notched up 288 for 5 off just 35 overs, including a century for Rawsthorne. The Nomads replied with 266 for 4. Pete Gardner scored his first century since scoring 156* in 2002 against the same opposition.

The Nomads probably approached this game in the wrong frame of mind, knowing that the opposition only had 8 men. The 8 men that did turn up were all good cricketers. Milner who had come to watch, with baby in tow, opened the batting to boost the opposition and looked in good form before he was trapped lbw by Fearon for 25 out of an opening stand of 30. Fearon and Heslington's opening spells were tidy enough but when the change bowlers took over Guest and Rawsthorne piled on the runs. They added 127 before Guest was bowled by Forster for 59. Wood joined Rawsthorne and they upped the rate still further. Rawsthorne reached a sparkling century but was immediately stumped by Gardner off the spin of Caygill, with the score now 234 for 2.
Hogarth continued to plunder the Nomads bowling, reaching a deserved half century. There were two more wickets for Caygill and one for Edwards who both bowled well in the circumstances.

Skipper Blackburn selected Gardner and Fearon to get the batting off to a positive start. With plenty of gaps in the field and a quick outfield the Nomads started to dominate the Church Eaton attack. With the score on 81, Fearon was starting to look ominous. He had amassed a quick fire 37 before he was out to an innocuous slower ball that was tossed up, which he completely lost in the flight. Caygill joined Gardner and the pair continued the rapid scoring rate. They added a superb 104 for the second wicket before Caygill was out for 64 bowled by Wood.

Gardner finally reached an impressive century and was caught for 114 off R. Hogarth. When he departed, the run rate started to look too much and the Nomads middle order were unable to reach the challenging target. Eventually falling 22 runs short.

A deserved victory for the better side on the day.