Nomads [H] Match Report
It was Noah's ark last week as everything came in twos. But third time is charm isn't it?
For those in a rush, WE WON! 3 on the bounce. See ya later.
For those with more time, here's a full (if not entirely accurate, match report).
A note upfront to say a huge thank you to Nomads for an entertaining and enjoyable game, but also to their scorers who have filled out the book with incredible precision and beauty... yes actual beauty, it's got colours and everything. And to Dave for umpiring once more... the sound of those stones dropping into that mug was delightful, legend mate!
T'was a fine Sunday as we took to the field to bowl. Going for a third win in a row, it was going to take a different style of win today, with our previous two coming from opening the batting and keeping things tight in the field. But would you believe it, the opposition (a new fixture for us in Nomads) were 17/2 off 10 overs.
That's incredible economy from Uncle Al, Jeremy and the field. Oh and Al opened things up with a maiden... casual. Both Jeremy and Al both deserved wickets with the quality deliveries they sent down and both were unlucky on several occasions not to get more reward. Al finished 23-0 off 6, including two vital maidens. Jeremy finished his first 4 overs with a maiden and 6-0, incredible mate.
One of the two openers for Nomads has hit 50+ scores for fun this season... some might say their very own Jamie Judd, but not so today. Between Al and Jeremy, the opener in question collected 30 dot balls before Sean decided enough was enough, and opened up his account with a peach which was top edged so high that he almost took out both Chris and Alex in his follow through catch... caught bowled and sent their opener back for just 3. An incredible start. But that was not enough for the Emphatic Evill who took a second wicket a couple of balls later to completely see off Nomad's opening pair.
At the other end, I found form with the ball that I've been searching for and working towards for the best part of 2 years as I took a feel-good-lbw in my second over. As Sean pushed on at the other end it was clear that two wickets wasn't enough, and anything Al and Jeremy can do, Sean can do too right? Damn right, nice one, maiden over, as I said it was threes this week, so we obviously had to have 3 bowlers getting maidens. But Sean, well, being Sean, went one better and added a wicket maiden to the book. Like Will last week, Sean was the pick of our bowlers finishing after 6 overs with 16-3. Emphatic.
This brought Warwick into the attack from the Manor end, with the usual inward/outward movement, he placed one almost perfectly on the batsman's leg side to take an edge as he played on... lovely stuff.
This brought a shift change as the new batsman at the crease tee'd off almost instantly, hitting 12 off just 5 balls. We felt that across the field, and I had one over left in my spell to try and do something about it. With the batsman in question on strike I felt almost gutted that he grabbed a single off the second ball in the over, so I dropped one slightly leg side to the other batsman to rotate the strike again. Then I regretted it... big 6 towards the bowls club. Then a combination of 3 occurred... Chris adjusted the field, sending 'slow-ball-signals' to my brain, and Laurence popped into my head with his cross-seam deliveries, so I decided to give it a go... especially as I expected the batsman would think I'd be angry about the 6 and chuck it down faster. Nevertheless he swung, missed and the ball took out middle and off to remove the danger man. After 6 overs, I finished with 21-2, my best for some time.
Mr Kipling (Laurence) sent down a series of french fancies and was backed up with the returning Jeremy and Jamie at the other end (sorry fellas, my photo cuts off your figures, but you both bowled brilliantly at the death). Somewhere in the mix here came the 'verbal incident', but we'll maybe let that slide as enough was said on and off the field, even though we're still not 100% clear on what the problem was... so Jamie wrapped the affair up by taking out his middle stump. Easy now.
Everyone played a part in the field today, Warwick 'The Wall' Hall was back in action and everyone else followed suit, including Jeremy who decided to have a lie down before catching the ball. If this had been a T20, they'd have only scored 55. As it was, after 30 overs Nomads where 126/7. Sterling work all round. This time last year we leaked runs. Extras was often the second-best scorer for the oppo as we regularly handed them 30+. Today for the second week running, just 10. A true marker for where we've come as a group.
Tea time brought the fabulous treats from the fabulous 3... cheers Sean, Tina and Justine... delicious, despite Alan's score. And the opposition loved it too, winning!
Batting then... Jamie, 50 who only used 5 of his 9 lives in another game-changing score. Backed up with Alex who did like an opener does and saw off a series of difficult-to-play bowling from their openers. He might not have got the runs he wanted, but most certainly made an impact as he tried to keep up with the speed of Jamie for those quick (but important) 1s and 2s.
Nomads fought back where they could with (you guessed it) 3 maiden overs, although not all back to back. Amongst this came a mini-collapse as Jamie said hello and goodbye to several of our batsman in a short period. Then came Jeremy who steadied things for a while and with Laurence by his side as Jamie retired, they took the total over 100 as we looked in a good place to take the win. This pair may have finished things off if Mr Kipling hadn't destroyed his heal whilst pushing for every necessary run. Rest up Laurence, hope you'll be back soon!
With Jeremy departing, it was myself and Sean at the crease to try and finish things off... needing just 3 an over off the last 7 overs, we had plenty of time... so I did what I've never done and hit a four off my first ball. So shocked was Alan who arrived an over or so later that he decided to do the same, but with more style as he smashed one through mid-wicket to well deserved applause. And there we were, needing just a run an over off the last four, with two batsman at the crease who've averaged just 1 run each this season.
No messing then... full toss, no ball and 4 to finish things off... I've dream of that for a while, and it felt even better in real life. 127/7 with 3 overs to spare. Lovely.
(Shout out to Pete and Jamie, your words of wisdom and encouragement at nets, along with some sessions at Dummer, gave me the confidence to hit that shot, thank you!).
That's 3 on the bounce and its 5 games unbeaten as we move into the double-header week.
T20 Thursday, Leg Rovers at Minal (Horseshoe after yeah!?)
Sunday, Kennet Valley away
Get on Spond, please say yes/no asap.
We go again!
Cheers!