Nomads lose out in tight finish

A very early start, due to some football match being televised at 7pm, saw Nomads put in to bat. Pete Gardner and Adam Hughes opened and made a solid start with Gardner doing the majority of the scoring. An opening stand of 64 in 19 overs was perhaps a little slow but it was a good base to push along with the scoring. Richard Bastable, replacing Gardner scored quickly and Hughes started to attack the bowling. Bastable, hampered somewhat by injury, was unfortunate to be run out with a direct hit from 30 yards. However, this saw the start of a great knock by Mahmood who scored a rapid 67no aided by John Loxley with 11no.
A score of 220 was probably more than we expected at drinks and with a slowish outfield we were quite confident of pushing for victory.
However, the openers for Aston Unity seemed to have little trouble reaching the boundary and despite good bowling by Mahmood and Turnbull made rapid progress. At drinks Aston were up with the run rate with the loss of only one wicket, but shortly after they lost Choudry due to a pulled hamstring. John Hoddy and Jim Cogzell replaced Mahmood and Turnbull, who had to go off the field with a leg strain. Cogzell was the most economical of the Nomads and along with Paul Fearon pegged back the runs. Hoddy came back and had success giving the ball more air particularly with a wicket maiden. At this stage Aston needed nearly 8 per over and the tide was turning in favour of Nomads. However some missed catches and costly overs saw Aston turn the tide and they attained their target with only 4 balls left.
Although just missing victory this was the kind of match which we play cricket for. There were many turning points in the match, retirements due to injury, missed chances, lofted shots evading the field but Nomads kept at it and could easily have reversed the result.

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

Date: 25th April 2021
Start time: 12:00pm
Venue: Coppice Lane, Middleton
Competition: 40 overs Friendly
Scores: Lichfield Nomads 221 for 3, Aston Unity 222 for 5
Result: Aston Unity beat Lichfield Nomads by 5 wkts
Toss: Aston Unity won the toss and elected to field.
Scorers: J. Hoddy / R. Ghosal / M. Heslington
Umpires: T. Jordan / M. Heslington
Report: J. Hoddy
Weather: Sunny, cool wind

29/04/2021