Lichfield Nomads Cricket Club : Match Reports 2014

Lichfield Nomads v D2 (Sutton Police)

Nomads 189 for 8
D2 190 for 8

Skipper for the day, Chris Jones, lost the toss (but would have batted 1^st anyway). D2 only had 10 players for the day, so Nomads very sportingly leant them a fielder. Gardner & Stanley opened, unfortunately the former being bowled unusually cheaply. The runs came slowly, amassing just 27 from the 1^st 10 overs. Jones was then out which brought George to the crease for just his 2^nd knock of the season. He set about trying to up the tempo, including a rather ‘ambitious’ attempt at a single which saw Stanley run out. Rolfe then had a slice of luck being dropped at point whilst getting the scoreboard moving. They put on 49 before Rolfe became Marsh’s 2^nd victim. Pinfield carried on the good work before perishing to the sometime Nomad Bebb. George soon followed falling 1 short (jug evasion!) of a 50. Jackson went for a 1^st ball gonad which brought an aggressive Heslington in to smash an unbeaten 27 in 21 balls. Westwood added a rapid 26 in 22 balls before getting bowled. This brought Hughes in for the last 5 balls. Nomads finished up with a competitive 189, which we hoped to be able to defend.

Tea was taken, which Jones & Hughes had joined forces to produce. Top quality!

Sutton Police started their reply slowly, taking just 18 off the 1^st 10 overs as both Heslington & Hughes bowled a tight opening spell, including a wicket for the latter. Then the rain came in the 11^th over. This changed the complexion of the game. Heslington was unable to bowl off his full run up & Westwood replaced Hughes to save some overs for the death. The ball got wetter and wetter. George replaced Heslington and struggled for consistency, but took a vital wicket. By the 20 over drinks break D2 were more or less back up with the rate on 90. Gardner came on in an effort to stem the tide. Westwood returned & then Hughes replaced Gardner both in an effort to bowl Nomads to victory. A glimmer of hope came when Hughes got an LBW in the 36^th over. 1 wicket to take or 15 runs for D2 to score in 4 overs. It stayed tense as their 10^th batsman wasn’t used to such pressure. SQ guided them through though with an unbeaten 55 as they scored the winning run with 2 overs to spare.

Disclaimer: any offence caused by this article is unintentional, any praise is well deserved.