Nomads Fail to Capitalise on Tight Bowling

Nomads arrived at Kings Bromley to a bone dry, dusty ground on yet another very hot day. Nomads were sent out to field by the opposition and Lloyd Taylor and P Fearon put the shackles on the opposition openers. Moss and Hoddy took over. Moss was equally tight but more runs came off Hoddy although he looked likely to take wickets and did get 2 in his spell. Hutton was difficult to get away and Heslington and Lliam Taylor finished off the innings taking wickets but giving a few more runs away. Having only just got over 100 after 30 over, Walsall Health did well to reach 166-6.

In this summer of high scores, Nomads looked well on course to achieve a revenge victory against their old rivals. However we were soon to find that the dusty pitch was putting off the timing of all the batsmen.

With the unusual absence of Gardner, Fearon opened with Terry and started briskly with 4 fours in his innings, however he elected to pull out of another attempted hit and was bowled. Terry was stumped by the very capable Gorton, who stood up to all his bowlers, after an earlier appeal was turned down by guest umpire Pete Blackburn. George and Moss came in and this pair, usually so free-flowing, were tied down by some good bowling and excellent fielding. At one point George was given out when the keeper caught an edge between his legs and Nick began walking but after a consultation it was deemed that due to a recent rule change the ball should be considered dead and Nick was reprieved. Hutton and Liam Taylor came in and upped the run-rate with some lusty blows but at this point we had too much to do and the innings ended 32 runs short of victory.
The match seemed to have raised interest with former player for both sides, Kev Collins, visiting from his new home in Brittany, Dave Forster guesting, having travelled from Wales for the Nomads golf event the previous day. Also Pete Blackburn and Malcolm Pinfield as well as Dan Brannigan and Daz Cartwright putting in appearances. Unfortunately spirits were low at the end of the match as Nomads felt that they had not made the most of their chances.

[Disclaimer: Any offence caused by this article is unintentional, any praise is well deserved]

Date: 22nd July 2018
Start time: 2:00pm
Venue: Kings Bromley
Competition: 40 overs Friendly
Result: Walsall Health won by 31 runs
Toss: Walsall Health won the toss and elected to bat.
Scorer: J. Hoddy
Umpires: P. Blackburn, D. Forster, P. Fearon, I. Terry
Weather: Sunshine, very hot.