After the Flood

Saturday 20th September saw the heavens open and down came a lot of rain. In fact it was a horrendous amount of rain. The last match of the season, away to Betley, was very much in doubt as the precipitation continued into the early hours of Sunday morning.
Nonetheless dawn heralded a bright, breezy, dry - if chilly - day and our hosts decided the game could go ahead, squidgy and slippery outfield notwithstanding. That decision probably wouldn’t have been made in April, but as the day progressed, so the elements made this less of an issue.
One of the great things about Betley is that you tend to have cows at cow corner, and this year proved to be no exception. Ian Hughes won the toss, elected to bowl and the Nomads entered the field wearing multiple layers.

The skipper started the game off in dramatic fashion, taking an excellent caught and bowled from the very first delivery. This brought Stuart Cheetham to the crease, who proceeded to hit a run-a-ball 50 before retiring. On the fall of the second wicket he was joined by young Freddie Hoskins who slowly but surely, and aided by a number of dropped catches, made his way to a maiden 50, well done young man. It certainly brought tears to Rich Bastable’s eyes, not to mention his nether regions.
For the second time in little more than a month, Tony Jordan ran out a non-striker who was backing up, this time diving to his right. For such a rarity to happen twice shows either incredible skill and reflexes or is the result of dropped catches.
Charlie Hoskins and Tom Happe gave it tap towards the end and our hosts finished on 206-6 off their 40 overs. Andy Gibson picked up a brace of wickets, while young Rylea Hughes did a fine job.

After a lovely cob dominated tea, our reply started badly with Dave Rolfe, Pete Gardner & Rich all falling cheaply and we found ourselves at 19-3. Up stepped the rarely seen (this season anyway) Aneek Mahmood who hit a fine and rapid 50 before retiring. Gibbo steadied the ship, but around him wickets kept falling and we found ourselves 101-7. Daz Cartwright held up an end for a good while, but his dismissal at 146 meant we were staring at defeat.
The quickly devised masterplan was that Jordan would go out, swing the bat and get out leaving Mahmood to rejoin Gibson in a charge for victory. Unfortunately Gibbo was out LBW for 48, and with no plan B in sight Jordan was bowled and the match was lost.

Our hosts had arranged a post match BBQ and this went down well: most Nomads remained until well after dark. Thanks to Betley for this fixture which, for the past few years, has marked the end of the season.

Winter well everyone, see you in the Spring.

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

Date: 21st Sept 2025
Start time: 12:40pm
Venue: Betley.
Competition: 40 overs friendly
Scores: Betley 206 for 6 (40 overs), Lichfield Nomads 147 all out (32.4 overs).
Result: Betley beat Lichfield Nomads by 59 runs
Toss: Lichfield Nomads won the toss and elected to bowl.
Scorer: n/a & Opposition
Umpires: n/a
Report: T. Jordan
Weather: Sunny and Chilly.

24th Sept 2025