Lichfield Nomads Cricket Club : Match Reports 2007

Nomads hold out for draw at Sutton on the Hill
A fine bowling performance by the Nomads restricted Sutton to 172 for 7. The Nomads batting reply started well and then stuttered as wickets fell regularly. A ninth wicket partnership between 'Sos' Hughes and John Hoddy ensured that the Nomads reached 117 for 8 and batted out the draw. This was the 500th match played by the Nomads and the result leaves the Nomads three up with three to play

Sutton on the Hill won the toss and chose to bat first. Openers Heslington and Hoddy kept the bowling tight early on, with only 16 runs coming from the first 10 overs. Cox and Greaves then replaced the opening bowlers. After a cautious start the batsmen started to up the scoring rate. Hall was the first to be dismissed after an opening partnership of 42. He was caught behind, by guest keeper Richard Love, off the bowling of Cox. There was clearly a noise but some debate about the cause. The umpire was in no doubt and Hall was dismissed for 14. Greaves then bowled Taylor for a duck. Wenn joined Johnson and the pair had added a vital 60 runs when Johnson was caught by Cox, off the bowling of Hughes. BD Land quickly followed for 4. Cox taking another impressive catch, in the covers, off the bowling of Fearon. Duffill added 39 with Wenn. Wenn was dismissed for 46 offering a tricky looping catch to Hussein at mid-on off the bowling of skipper Hughes. Heslington and Hoddy returned to the action and Heslington trapped Duffill lbw for 23 and Hoddy bowled Martindale. Sutton declared at tea with a total of 172 for 7 off 44 overs.

Gardner and Hussein opened the batting. Gardner looked in fine form and was scoring freely. Hussein was bowled by Fred Ashford for 7 with the score on 41. Pinfield quickly followed for a rare duck and the Nomads were 51 for 3 when Gardner was bowled by Taylor who was getting some movement off the pitch. Fearon started quickly and hit Taylor for a straight four all along the ground and then saw off Ashford with two consecutive fours. The tempting Brown proved to be Fearon's nemesis. The first ball was a wild full toss, which went for four, and the third one was a loopy straight one that bowled him as he failed to connect with an attempted sweep shot. The Nomads were now 74 for 4. Love was then bowled by Taylor for 11. Cox batted well and hit some fine shots, with the minimum of backlift. He was caught off the wily Taylor for 16 and the Nomads were 93 for 6. It was 102 for 7 when Heslington went for 10 runs, including a six, caught off Brown. With the lack of batsmen and the rate climbing to more than seven an over it was time for the Nomads to abandon the run chase and knuckle down to save the draw. By this time, father and son Hughes were at the crease. Ian didn't last long and was Taylor's fourth victim as he was caught for 1. Sos and John Hoddy gave a master class in playing for the draw. Leaving the wide deliveries and defending stoutly against the straight stuff. Ashford and Martindale returned in an attempt to mop up the tail and Hoddy (still bearing the bruises from last week) bravely fended off a couple of short deliveries. Apart from a couple of Hoddy edges that didn't quite carry to the packed slip cordon they survived the last 10 overs in relative comfort to secure the draw.

The evening was rounded off at The Three Horseshoes, Long Lane village. Where excellent chilli con carne and crusty bread, kindly provided by the hosts, was washed down with Hartington's IPA (£2.65 a pint). Stuart Cox scored 6 of the 10 MVP votes for his bowling, batting and excellent fielding (including two catches).