Lichfield Nomads Cricket Club : Match Reports 2009

Still rusty after all those nets

After what seemed like months of nets, Nomads were undone by not having the net to bounce the ball towards the stumps and by the reluctance to attempt catches while netting.
The match began with a minute’s silence in mark of respect for our late chairman, Ray Jennett.

Swynnerton openers were keen to keep the scoreboard ticking along and neither Heslington nor Forster had the luck they deserved, with the ball dropping into empty spaces from Heslington and a confident lbw appeal from Forster turned down. With the score on 36, from the opening 8 overs Hughes and Hoddy took over, with the latter having an immediate impact, removing Price with his second ball. Hughes then dropped a fairly straightforward chance, from Hoddy’s bowling, at mid-off. Hoddy, bowling with his usual metronomic efficiency, then removed the second opener bringing together the aggressive Capewell and Chandler who set about keeping the score up to a run-a-ball, as all the Nomads bowlers suffered and the better balls either missed the outside edge or hesitant shots looped into spaces. Pinfield was unlucky to have two difficult chances pass through his hands at slip and West, with his first bowl for Nomads briefly struggled with his rhythm, but was unlucky not to claim his first victim as Hughes got both hands to the ball as he ran backwards, but could not hold on. Moss, in particular was unlucky with his considerable variation, mixing pace with subtlety. After Moss had broken through Chandler’s resistance, Hughes eventually tempted Bradford into giving Blackburn Snr. a simple chance. Moss then ran out Wassem, who had been battering the ball all over the place, with a superb throw from point which struck the only stump visible. The innings ended with Heslington and Forster re-united. The former was bowled particularly well as the batsmen attempted to force the pace and was rewarded with Capewell’s wicket, well-taken by West, who had a good day in the field, on debut. Forster also chipped in with a couple of wickets, at the end, leaving Swynnerton on 236, helped by the high wide-count.

After a good tea Gardner and Moss opened up for Nomads. Both batsmen took the attack to the, generally, accurate and nippy bowling before Moss unluckily found a new way to get out, almost kicking a ball from well outside leg stump onto his wicket. Weir was lucky to get away with a confident lbw appeal to his second ball but soon fell to the pacey Hawbrook, bringing Pinfield to join Gardner, who was now going well. The pair kept up with the asking rate, with Pinfield strong on the on-side and Gardner quick to latch onto anything even slightly loose with some fine drives. Unfortunately once Gardner had gone, to a good catch, low down, with the score on 139, the Nomads challenge quickly folded, the last 8 wickets going for a disappointing 22 runs, including a disappointed West, going first ball.

The team were keen to ensure that Gardner was kept busy, after keeping for 40 overs and batting through a further 26, he was afforded a ten-minute respite before being sent out for umpiring duties.

Finally, I still have a Nomads long sleeved sweater, which someone kindly put in my bag, at the end of the ’07 season. Any claimants can ring/email me if they wish as it didn’t reach the reserve on eBay.

Heslington 8-0-31-1;
Forster 8-0-40-2;

Hughes 7-0-53-1;
Hoddy 5-0-26-2;

Blackburn P. 3-0-33-0;
Moss 7-1-34-1;
West 2-0-16-0

Islam 4-0-22-0;
Townsend 6-0-30-2;
Hawbrook 6-0-27-4;
Chandler M. 7-1-32-0;
Wassem 8-1-36-1;
Osgathorpe 5-1-14-2