Lichfield Nomads Cricket Club : Match Reports 2003

Beaudesert v Lichfield Nomads
Date: Saturday 19th July 2003.  Time: 2:30pm
Venue: Away, Rugeley Power Station.   Competition: Friendly - 40 Overs. No Limit for bowlers.
Result: Won by 5 Wickets
Conditions: Hot, cloudy.
Toss: Lost
Match Report by: John Hoddy

Nomads Gain Revenge on Beau

Stand-in captain Gardner and vice-captain Higginson led the Nomads out to field against old rivals Beaudesert at the Rugeley Power Station ground. On a pitch which was too dead for easy stroke play and with a slow outfield runs were always going to be at a premium. Fine bowling by opening duo Hemmings and Higginson maintained the pressure and the 4th over saw the dangerous Gallier fall to a peach of a ball by Hemmings who was bowling with great aggression. Higginson was unlucky to see an easy chance dropped at square leg when 2 fielders went for the same ball but he gained his revenge when he bowled  the other opener . France and Cowley developed a partnership which saw the score proceed to 40 when Hemmings claimed 2 wickets in 2 balls, the 2nd a great catch by keeper Gardner. Heslington had replaced Higginson at this stage and bowled a solid spell keeping the run-rate at around 2.5  per over. Hoddy replaced Hemmings and managed to take a couple of wickets before losing his line and length seeing his figures go from 11 runs off 5 overs to 23 off 6. Beau, always known for their resilience kept battling away and it needed the wizardry of slow bowling maestro Greaves to tease out the last 3 batsmen leaving Beau at 102 all out.

Nomads had no illusions that the target was going to be easy, especially playing under the unrestricted overs rule insisted upon by Beaudesert. Gardner and Heslington opened with instructions to play it steady which saw Gardner dropped twice in the first over of L Elson. The other opener S Elson was also bowling well and a slow start saw Nomads at 20 off 12 overs before a flurry of runs saw the score double over the next 3 overs to see the team on course for victory. However Heslington was then out lbw which saw the arrival of Hoddy, promoted up the order as the captain and vice thought that his special talents (ie obdurate slow scoring) would be ideal for the situation. Unfortunately Gardner was soon out to a good catch at the 2nd attempt by the slip and then Pinfield followed a widish ball to be caught behind for a duck. Then Hemmings arrived and, playing his natural game, scored 24 at a run a ball to almost seal the victory. Hemmings was finally bowled and Higginson arrived and cracked a slashing 4 off the 1st ball he received. The scores tied Higginson tried to seal the victory with another 4 but was comprehensively bowled. Blackburn and Hoddy patiently waited for the winning run which came off Hoddy’s glove leaving him undefeated on 19. A sweet victory over old rivals.

Beadesert
L Edwards       b                                  Higginson         6        
S Gallier           b                                  Hemmings        2        
C France          b                                  Hemmings      15       
C Cowley         b                                  Hoddy           16       
M Hughes        ct Gardner                   Hemmings          0       
A Matthews     lbw                               Heslington       15       
P Bates            ct Hemmings              Hoddy               2       
L Elson             st Gardner                   Greaves          13       
S Bentley          b                                  Greaves          10       
S Elson             not out                                                  6
M Thorely        b                                   Greaves           2         Extras                                                                          15       

Total                                                                            102     
 

Nomads
Gardner            ct         Bentley     26       
Heslington        lbw       L Elson    16
Hoddy              not out                   19
Pinfield             ct         Bentley       0
Hemmings        b          L Elson    24
Higginson         b          S Elson      5
Blackburn         not out                    0
Weir                 dnb
Coleman           dnb
Pickering          dnb
Greaves            dnb
Extras                                                  

Total                                                    103-5

Higginson 10-1-18-1, Hemmings 9-3-25-3                              
Heslington 9-3-20-1, Hoddy 6-2-23-2                        
Greaves 5.3-1-11-3