Delayed 40th Anniversary Match Ends in Cliffhanger Finish

The Nomads 40th Anniversay Match delayed from last year saw a late start due to the groundsman not being aware that the match was due to take place. So with the forecast of rain it was agreed to play 30 overs.Teams were selected and a Mark Heslington XI took to the field, facing a Malcolm Pinfield XI openeing with Cogzell and Loxley.. Facing Mahmood and Hoddy, the openers tried to attack the bowling of Hoddy but, like many before were undone by his lack of pace and turn, Loxley falling to an excellent one-handed catch by Sam Bryars at square leg and then Cogzell fell to an unexpectedly good catch by Stanley at mid-on. Loxley had been replaced by an apprentice Nomad Rylea Hughes who was soon joined by his Dad, Ian Hughes. Playing in tandem with his son seemed to inspire Hughes senior who hit a creditable 19, Rylea chipping in with 5. Pinfield and Ellis pushed the score along before Pinfield was caught off the bowling of Stanley and Ellis retired at 26. Parkes struck a couple of fours, Scurlock, who had swapped sides, was out for 1 and Kev Collins was not out 0. Pete Blackburn and Tony Jordan did not bat. With almost 28 overs completed, the rains came and a slightly early tea was taken.
Gardner and Mahmood opened for the Mark Heslington XI facing Cogzell and Jordan. Cogzell ran out Gardner with a brilliant throw from 20 yards aiming at one stump and Jordan was delighted to bowl Mahmood with an apperently unplayable delivery. Sam Bryars along with Dan Moss steadied the ship and pushed the score along before Bryars was bowled on 17 with Moss then retiring on 26. Nick Bryars came in with Len Page but was caught by Moss who had substituted in the field for Pete Blackburn coming off with a strained calf. Yet another Bryars, Olivia, came on to bat scoring a creditable 7 runs. Things were getting interesting now with 18 runs required from 6 overs and not the quickest of batsmen to come in. However after settling in, Dave Pickering, confounded his critics in the crowd and went onto the attack and with his 8 runs kept his side’s hopes alive. Stanley and Hoddy were both out for 1, Hoddy to an excellent catch by Cogzell at silly-mid-off, but Heslington and Pickering saw the innings out with the result being a very appropiate tie on 102 runs each.
An extremely enjoyable day saw a few old faces reappearing. Spectators included Akim Hussein, Bob Grewer, Ian Terry and Pete Willis. Jas Basi, Rana Ghosal and Marcus Hutton also attended. David Rolfe umpired and Dave Forster sent his apologies Apologies to anyone I have over looked. The result could not have been more fitting for the occasion.


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

Date: 9 July 2023
Start time: 2:00pm
Venue: Gorway Road, Walsall C.C.
Competition: 30 overs Friendly
Scores: Pinfield's XI 102 for 6 v Heslington's XI 102 for 8
Result: Tie
Toss:
Scorer: J. Hoddy, A. Jordan
Umpires: Various
Report: J. Hoddy
Weather: Showers

11 July 2023