Lichfield Nomads Cricket Club : Match Reports 2003

Woore v Lichfield Nomads
Date: Sunday 13th July 2003.  Time: 2:30pm
Venue: Away.   Competition: Friendly - 40 Overs.
Result: Won by 10 wickets
Conditions: Hot and sunny
Toss: Lost
Match Report by: John Hoddy

Nomads Cruise to 10-Wicket Victory at Woore

In the absence of captain Forster, on extended leave of absence, the experienced Malcolm Pinfield took over the reins with the assistance of vice-captain Higginson. Showing all his old skills Pinfield lost the toss ensuring Nomads a torrid afternoon in the field on the hottest day of the year. A surprise opener was Woores wiley old spinner, Roy Wilde, who lived a charmed life (only to be surpassed in sheer jam by Hussein’s knock for Nomads) playing and missing or slicing the ball just past fielders off the bowling of Higginson. His partner seemed intent on smashing every ball for four and took a liking to Coleman who struggled to maintain a consistent line and length. Eventually Roy’s luck ran out and Cartwright claimed a wicket. His partner was bowled by a full-toss from Hemmings that crept in just below waist height. the next two batsmen looked to maintain the scoring rate but took a few too many risks and were out cheaply claimed by Heslington. Hoddy was brought on to give the quick bowlers a bit of a rest and started to take wickets, albeit of either embryos or players who did not know how to hold the bat properly. Woore, who obviously had a weakened side out, appeared to be batting anyone who turned up and Nomads who had twice started to walk off for a well-deserved tea had to start again when Woore discovered yet another player. Eventually the innings ended with Woore 90-9 with no more batsmen

Several of the Nomad players, anticipating that their services would not be required, tucked into a fine tea. Gardner and Hussein opened the innings with instructions to take things steadily. This was achieved but Hussein was dropped 4 times and had a number of appeals against him turned down. Gardner also had a few scares and appeared to be dropped 3 times off one ball, twice by the keeper and once by the slip but he claimed after the match that he had never touched the ball. Both batsmen survived and knocked off the runs in just over 20 overs, winning the match and bringing the season to 6½-7½ and the sniff of a curry a bit closer although there are now some tough games to come.

The real surprise of the day came when Hoddy with figures of 3.1-2-5-4 got no votes at all for MVP. Could there be a campaign trying to stop this fine cricketer from achieving his just rewards?
Report by JD Hoddy