Match Report: 01/06/14 v Carshalton Athletic CC

Nomads run Carshalton close in tense encounter

Jamie Curme resolute in his farewell innings

If there’s one thing the Nomads know, it is the tense finish. Many games have ended in near darkness as a brace of runs is either needed to be collected or defended, each ball matching the finest plots theatre has to offer. And my was there another close one today.

Captain Niz Sirisena and a few others remember the scale of defeat handed out in the corresponding fixture last year which saw the Nomads collapse to 104 all out chasing 240 on a ground with small boundaries. It was a Curtis century that did for them and upon winning the toss the Nomads knew that getting 240 and pulling the curtains on Curtis were required. Niz had a full strength team to choose from this week, with run machines Taylor, Logan and Sexton all champing at the bit after destroying Millfields in the Battle of Brockley the previous Sunday. Jamie Curme plays his last match before travelling overseas.

It was another glorious day as the sun had turned up early to accompany Dan Cambage and Gareth Thomas to the crease. For Carshalton, it was Satchell with his bag of tricks to open up the bowling with Martin (1-34). It was Gareth who put up the initial resistance against some very disciplined bowling blocking out the two bowlers who only conceded 1 extra in the first ten overs. Dan counter attacked from the other end gaining a brisk 13 before edging one to keeper Golding.

In lieu of a batting collapse that occurred last year it was a bowling collapse as the Nomads put on a 149 run partnership for the third wicket as Gareth’s calm and James Taylor’s storm threw the bowlers off line. Together they hit 20 boundaries in under 30 overs plus a booming six off the bat of James. Despite offering a couple of chances off dropped catches James looked in good touch again compiling a beastly 92 off 54 balls before finally being caught by Wilson in the deep. Bowler Curtis (2-25) soon found a way through Gareth’s defences to end a fine innings of 45, every bit classy and important as an Ed Joyce display for Sussex. At 170 off 39 overs there was still work to be done however and the middle order were more than up to the task, skipper Niz and Rob Logan played without fear to get the score up near 200.

With a few overs to go and a 200-plus score needed Satchell (2-19) bagged both batsmen quickly bringing Jamie Curme, in his final innings for the club and young gun Jake Sexton to the crease. The pair combined for a 40 run partnership, Jamie opening his account with a textbook cover drive, followed a bit later by Jake’s book-busting Dilscoop for four over a bemused keeper’s head. The two finished 7 and 21 not out leaving Carshalton 234 to win the match.

Misfortune struck early for the Nomads as Will White pulled up with a shoulder strain after the opening over leaving a big hole to fill  in the bowling attack. In a flash of swashbuckling captaincy, Niz swapped left arm pace for left arm spin and asked Phil Konecny to share the new ball with Russell Roberts. Phil vindicated the choice with 7 overs of hard to hit bowling costing only 29 runs and forced the batsman to look for edgy runs elsewhere.

Goldfinch and Golding were the opening pair for Carshalton and it was Golding’s gilded edge that proved his downfall falling to Russell (2-34) with a great catch from James in the slips. No.3 Bird was snared for 12 while Goldfinch soared with Wilson giving the Nomads their first challenge from the batting side.

Jake and Jamie were called upon to continue their unbeaten partnership with ball in hand as Niz sought for control. While Jake (2-35) forced his wickets with aggressive pace and accuracy Jamie (3-48) walked in at the other end with gentle deception and a hint of turn. Goldfinch fell to a great take by Dan behind the stumps and Jones felt a rush of blood as the bowler told him to hit one for six the ball before drinks but could only find the hands of Russell at mid-on.

Jamie finished his 8 over spell with a bow to his team mates and a handshake from the captain, as he surely contemplates what rest of the season holds for the team while he is in New Zealand. At this point Jamie and Jake were bowled out and Carshalton were seven down, with Curtis left with the tail to find a win.

Clucas stuck around with Curtis as Niz and Gareth probed with the ball. It was Gareth who found the eighth wicket, removing Clucas’s bails with a delivery striking the top off off stump. However Curtis continued, he’d earlier dealt with the duo of J’s with boundaries and kept much in the same vein coxing a nervous looking Martin along in the process.

The overs ticked towards 40 and the runs crept towards 234, the Nomads looked for an answer to cut off Curtis. Phil delivered an over, no answer. Will gallantly returned with his own left arm spin, no answer. The curtain was falling and Curtis was on the right side. Then Russell returned, the right guy for the final act. Six balls, five runs needed, the equation was simple. The first ball to Curtis was flicked away for a single and Martin looking uneasy, flicked the next ball for a single. Curtis could only scramble a bye for the third leaving Martin in the headlights. The next ball was a dot and the Nomads could feel like the chance was theirs with Curtis down the other end unable to score. Then Martin wrote his way into Roald Dahls ‘Tales of the Unexpected’. Next ball. SIX. It was all over, looking like he couldn’t hit a ball, Martin ended it with the cruellest shot of all.

Though any loss is hard on a team, the Nomads dealt with it well. A great partnership from Gareth and James, entertaining displays from Jake and Jamie and a more competitive game shone over the negative result.

The Nomads head back home to Hilly Fields for their next match against The Village CC on Sunday 8th June as the cricketing summer continues.

Johnny Blonde is a former editor-in-chief of The Leopard and a relative of Nomads spin bowler Jamie Curme. 

Match Report: 18/05/14 v Barnes Occasionals CC

Weight of runs too heavy for Barnes Occasionals

The Hobgoblin Nomads returned to Hilly Fields this week after a washed out draw in Raynes Park last week. Harry Cambage and James Taylor return to the team which were still looking for their first win of the season. The Barnes Occasionals, old friends of the Nomads brought a side missing some of their first team picks but looked competitive nonetheless.

On a glorious spring day captain Niz Sirisena won the toss and really had no choice but to bat and give Barnes 40 overs of basking in the heat, from the sun and from the Nomads top order. Dan Cambage and Gareth Thomas relished the opportunity and raced to 41 until Dan was bowled getting stuck on the back foot. Jamie Curme was pushed up the order to try and replicate his batting form of season’s past a-la Scott Borthwick but the plan failed to bear fruit this match, frustration getting the better of him during his six ball stay. Frustration was nowhere to be found in Gareth who only brought calm and serenity to the top order, looking much more at ease in the crease than he has all season. James Taylor showed no sign of abating his addiction to run scoring, smacking the ball to all parts of the ground picking up his second half century of the season.

James and Gareth put on a hundred run partnership and looked set for more until opposition skipper bought himself on for a cheeky bowl and it was his loosener, a 15 foot high ball that dropped through a stunned Gareth and allowed keeper Makatravicz to take a stumping to end Gareth’s innings of 39 of 79 deliveries. James departed soon after for 74 which brought Niz and Rob Logan to the middle assuming similar roles, Niz was the accumulator and Rob bamboozled the Barnes bowlers with a solid defence and a hair trigger leg side shot that sent any ball to the boundary at speed even on a sluggish outfield.

Catches behind the wicket snared both Niz and Adam Jones and at 198 for 6 Barnes looked to be getting some control back in the innings. Jake Sexton in at 8 today joined Rob and the two kicked it up a gear, no part of the field was defendable as Rob, 40 not out peppered the leg side and Jake, 32 not out off only 16 balls took care of the rest. The highlight of the last few overs was a sublime checked shot for six down the ground from Jake and the Nomads finished on 254 for 6.

The sun was still streaming down as the Nomads took to the field tasked with defending their total, their first targets were to remove the Barnes openers and the middle order. Will White came up the hill and Russell Roberts took the new ball down the hill and was soon causing problems. Barnes were not to know what hit them.

Russell is a canny bowler at the worst of times, cool as a cucumber after being hit for six and ready to put the ball back on the pitch next delivery with what seems like effortless control. At the best of times he is unplayable, saving a match last year with a penultimate over maiden against  a gun batsman with a license to swing. Metcalfe went first, caught. Skipper Price next, caught. No. 4 Kellock, bowled. Hughes, ct at gully by Gareth. Keeper Makatravicz ct Logan. Middle order gone and in their place was a career first Five-for for Russell. He finished with match figures of 6-2-15-5 gaining wickets for only three runs apiece. Needless to say the Man-of-the-Match was his.

Russell’s hustle combined with the tall run chase left Barnes in tatters. Good bowling and ruffled batsman earned Will two wickets for 17 runs. Jamie Curme (2-12) used variations in off-spin to get the last of the recognised batsman out and a smart stumping from Dan Cambage got another. Not to be completely upstaged by Russell, Rob Logan got the last say taking his debut wicket with his only straight ball to close out the match.

In the end the Nomads claimed a 194 run win, dismissing Barnes for only 60. This gave the Nomads their first win of the season and although the scoreline looks convincing, it was to the full credit of a hardworking team with the bat and ball.

Next week the Nomads host the other Hilly Fields based team, Millfields CC in a match being billed by locals as the Battle of Brockley. A performance like this will have Millfields on the ropes if they don’t bring their A-game.

Johnny Blonde is a former editor-in-chief of The Leopard and a relative of Nomads spin bowler Jamie Curme. 

Match Report 05/05/2014 v Edwardia XI

Veteran veterinarian’s valiant effort in vain

Photo: Friends of Hilly Fields

The Nomads returned to the Hilly Fields Oval on Monday to give New Cross its first taste of bank holiday cricket. The visiting team today were Edwardia XI who had neglected to bring a spin bowler but upon seeing a green wicket can’t have been too perplexed. The Nomads had the same eleven from Essex on Sunday except for Andy Schulze making way for John Hankinson, back in the country after returning from Australia.

Nomads captain Niz Sirisena, who usually has such luck in winning the toss had lost three in a row before this match but he was reasonably chipper going out to the middle with away captain Utkarsh. He returned just as chipper and informed the team with a smile that they were going out to bat. Dan Cambage and Gareth Thomas walked out to face opening bowlers Vickey and Daman who began by peppering the off side for a plethora of wides, giving the Nomads plenty of free runs. Scoring freely off the bat was another thing entirely however as despite short boundaries, longer than ideal grass had a distance sapping effect on the ball and accurate balls amongst the wide deliveries didn’t help either. Dan dug in at one end but Gareth continued his lean start to the season this time being unfortunate to be adjudged lbw off a ball hitting above the knee roll.

Batting for the first time at number three John Hankinson was up to the task, he knew already that runs had to be fought for on this wicket. Sun gave way to a haze which hovered over London for the rest of the day and the Nomads top order were looking at playing the long innings. Luckily for the Nomads, Vet John had more patience than patients this bank holiday and got singles and twos where they could be found and blocked the good balls out. Dan played well for 12 off 25 but fell to a catch off the bowling of Ankit. Captain Niz strode to the crease and got the biggest round of applause of the match after he survived his first ball, avoiding the second golden duck in a row and like Dan and John, had to dig in to score.

The match figures will tell you that Edwardia XI bowled an extra 4 overs worth of wides but not that the majority of the other balls were going on to hit the stumps which made getting into a batting groove difficult. No batsman bar Rob Logan who finished on 18 n.o. off 26 balls had a strike rate above 50 and you could have thought it was a test match as Niz scored 16 off 58 balls, Jake Sexton 1 off 9 and Will White 8 of 20. Despite that Niz and John put on a 50 run partnership and steadied the ship, so when Niz was caught by captain Utkarsh off of Prakesh (1-10), Rob Logan had time to get himself in and at the moment that is helping him get runs for the team. John kept the strike rotating and scored 7 fours across the sluggish outfield, top scoring with his club record of 40. He’d faced 85 balls and was eventually trapped on his crease by Shubham who bowled an excellent 4 over spell finishing with 2-8.

Another batsman who played his part only faced three balls but was responsible for 8 runs was Martyn Williams, occupying the Gilchrist spot at number 7. Bowler Ankit (3-11) turned up the heat in his second spell and had Jake bowled but Martyn played with intent only to see 4 byes slip by his bat face and 4 leg byes do the same. With a bit more time in the middle against pace, the emerging batsman would have seen them come off the bat and it won’t be long before Martyn, no stranger to a fight with a cricket ball, will triumph. Charlie McGinnes was out last ball of the innings trying to force a final boundary and the Nomads put 143 on the board for the loss of 8 wickets.

It was clear that Edwardia were going to go for the runs as quickly as possible from the off and the Nomads had to take early wickets to have a chance of winning the match. Tonker Robbie duly obliged Jake (2-40) as he was given out lbw coming across from leg stump and getting bat nowhere near the ball in the second over of Edwardia’s reply. Jake bowled with zip and venom but was a victim of his own success at times as balls clearly too good for the batsman ended up being edged for boundaries down to third man.

Will (2-21) did a great impersonation of Kate Bush, running up that hill as he so often does and removed two batsman with his left arm seamers. Niz in the slips reached wuthering heights as an outstretched hand clasped a catch of Will’s bowling and Niz was the most surprised that it was actually taken. He alongside Gareth continue to be the form fieldsman this season. Jamie Curme suffered a smashed fingernail stopping a ball at mid-off and injured it further failing to take a tough chance in the same position a few overs later and was struck off the bowling options for the team.

This opened the way for John Hankinson (4-23) to take the ball in the later overs as Utkarsh and Shubham were entrenching themselves in and were chipping off the runs. At the twenty over mark, Edwardia were 73-3 and halfway to getting to the target score. John bowled wicket-to-wicket firing balls down the corridor of uncertainty as if he owned it. After having a plum lbw decision turned down he persevered and had top scorer Shubham lbw for 25. John got them with good balls and he got them with bad balls, Jake catching a lofted shot from Akshul and Daman bowled of a perfect full ball for 13. In a seven over spell the veteran veterinarian pushed the Nomads close to an unlikely victory and he was ably supported by relentless lieutenants Russell Roberts (0-22) and Gareth (0-14). It was tense until the 36th over when some misfields allowed Monty Panesar lookalike Inder and Gun bowler Ankit to get the winning runs finishing on 11n.o. and 10n.o. respectively.

If there was a vote on who was man-of-the-match John would have been the standout candidate, highest run getter and wicket taker for either team and all from his first game this year. The pitch at Hilly Fields Oval is proving to be a very cruel mistress and the groundstaff and the Nomads batsman need to tame her very soon. But not too soon as the next match is away to the Old Wimbledonian Poets in Rayne’s Park.

Johnny Blonde is a former editor-in-chief of The Leopard and a relative of Nomads spin bowler Jamie Curme.

Match Report 04/05/2014 v Noak Hill Taverners

Essex proves a trip too far for New Cross's Nomads 

Test cricket was dealt a blow in South East London this bank holiday weekend as the match between the Hobgoblin Nomads and the Unavoidables was cancelled. Instead it was more of the 40 over diet as two emergency fixtures were arranged, the first of which was in leafy Noak Hill in Essex.

It was a homecoming of sorts for middle-order marauder Rob Logan who was desperate to show the land of his childhood a more mature version of himself both on and off the field. Logan was joined in the team by returning pace duo Will White and Russell Roberts both looking fresh and well rested. The Noak Hill Taverners led by Raj Jogia had a team for the generations capped off with septuagenarian wicketkeeper Dave Parker.

On a sunny day with a sky filled with nothing but midges the Taverners chose to bat upon winning the toss and Nomads captain Niz Sirisena marshalled his opening bowlers Jake Sexton and Will White into position. Batsmen French and O’Sullivan did what they had to do against the new ball and it wasn’t until Jake (1-24) tempted O’Sullivan with a vacant second slip that the edge was found and pocketed by Dan Cambage behind the stumps. In a shrewd move, spin was bought on first change which bore the second wicket as number three Raja couldn’t handle the heat and gave a slow but tough catch to Andy Schulze at mid off.

A middle order was held back by several unplayable deliveries from Charlie McGinnes (1-22) who accounted for second opener French and Russell Roberts (2-48) whose nagging line and length removed the dangerous Bellot for 12. While bruiser Roger Bayley was at the crease the Nomads were made to work hard in the field with Bayley often finding boundaries in the cracks. It wasn’t until a no nonsense spell from Will (2-42) switching ends that things began to swing back in favour of the Nomads. Bayley had his bails smashed by a beauty from Will and Khan fell in the same manner. Gareth Thomas operating from the other end took a leaf out of Will’s book and bowled skipper Jogia for 18. The Taverner’s innings ended on 230-8 with old hand Parker 2 n.o., giving the Nomads a high total to chase but it was a good batting wicket.

The only thing hindering Dan’s batting was the undergrowth on the boundary, with most of his 7 fours requiring Ray Mears to pop down and retrieve the ball before play could continue. With ten runs coming off the first over and 28 of the sixth and seventh overs the Nomads were definitely in the hunt. Despite losing Gareth early for 2, Dan and Jake were firmly behind the driving seat and more importantly, the ball. With the batsman set, a quick run turned into a mini-collapse as Jake was run out and skipper Niz got a rum’un first ball and was bowled. Times like these call for heroes and Essex’s own answered, Rob Logan defying his critics, brought maturity and composure to the crease. In keeping the bowlers at bay for 11 balls he tried their patience and bruised their egos, taking 23 runs off his next 11 balls.

After Dan departed for 45 there could have been another collapse but Andy Schulze wasn’t reading the script. Andy is known for his powerful striking, good cricket brain and prowess in the field. It was in Essex that you can now add a penchant for big runs to that list, it was an innings of strike rotating, rope clearing menagerie that really made a mark for the season. It was indeed, Andy’s highest score for the team, 47 off only 48 balls. Eventually keeping up with the run rate took its toll, as after Russell batted well for 9 down the order, returning opening bowler Khan (1-22) took the remaining will out of the Nomads, specifically Will White who was last man out bowled for 18.

With 5.75 runs an over needed, the Nomads managed 5.13 which is by no means unrespectable but wasn't quite enough to topple the Taverners. After this match the Nomads head directly back to familiar climes with a good squad and batsman with good runs under their belt.

Johnny Blonde is a former editor-in-chief of The Leopard and a relative of Nomads spin bowler Jamie Curme.
 

Match Report 26/04/2014 v St. Luke's CC

Stunning Debuts, Returns and Runs ruined by Sultan of St.Luke’s

The rain almost did away with this fixture but the sun shone on Hilly Fields allowing the home season for the Hobgoblin Nomads to get underway. Captain Niroshan ‘Niz’ Sirisena was still missing pace duo Will White and Russell Roberts but he was able to put debutant youngster Jake Sexton and absent test match star Sean Denereaz, who missed the 2013 season, into the side. Stalwart behind the stumps for much of 2013, Dan Cambage had a niggle and James Taylor took the gloves for the match

Losing the toss, Niz was able to press his new and returning recruits into action and they immediately caused problems for the St.Lukes batsmen. A damp pitch produced variable bounce, particularly from the Hill end and scoring was slow to begin with. Some athleticism from wicket keeper Taylor and the opening bowlers kept the batsman honest and quickly forced their wickets. Jake (4-26) had Yousaf caught behind flashing at the ball and a similar rush of blood accounted for St. Luke’s captain M Sultan who fell to a stunning leaping catch from Taylor off the bowling of Sean (1-19). The top order had no answer to Jake as three more fell to his Stokes-esque right arm seam, capping off a sublime bowling debut.

There were two hand of god moments as both Niz and opening bat Gareth Thomas took great catches in the slips. Coaches say to always use both hands when taking a catch but the Nomads were listening to a higher power that innings. Both were low one handed chances they had no business pouching. It’s performances from senior players like this that will drive the nomads fielding standards higher this season.

Gareth (1-21) and Niz (2-33) also pitched in with some great wickets of their own but it was third change bowler Harry Cambage that did for St.Luke’s hopes of an imposing total, as after an indifferent first over, Harry blew off the cobwebs to remove opposition keeper Riazun who had just scored his half century. Using untold amounts of guile and getting the ball to rear off a good length Harry proved to be a handful, bowling another player and finishing with (2-20). St. Lukes posted a slightly under par 144 all out and the sun was still shining giving the Nomads a good chance of a win.

If the Nomads opening bowlers were as classy and striking as the Chrysler building in New York then St.Lukes were the Empire State Building, more crude in appearance yes, but taller and steelier. Custons (2-21) and Harsh (2-19) bowled miserly spells giving nothing away to anyone but the most belligerent of batsman. It was an unfortunate start for Nomads. Gareth, as resolute as ever opening, tickled an away swinger behind to the keeper early departing for two. While Dan at the other end continued his search for fluency with the bat after a determined innings away last week but Custons found a way through his defence to bowl him for seven.

Things turned up for the Nomads as they happen to have one of the most belligerent of batsman, in the form of James Taylor. James supplied some greased lightning to the run rate hitting nine off his first four balls faced and was assisted initially by skipper Niz who batted well for his seven until a ball popped up for opposing captain Sultan to take at mid-wicket. The middle order came and went leaving the team 54 for 5 in the 18th over when James was joined at the crease by Jake, who while only getting seven runs contributed to a partnership of 47 in 5 overs which put the Nomads closer to the target of 145 with 101 runs on the board as Jake left.

James, going at a strike rate of 130 was the lynchpin of the side as wickets continued to tumble, no other batsman made over seven for the team. Things were looking good for the team and for James who in the 31st over hit a six over the hill to bring up a magnificent hundred. But when a single ran by number 10 Jamie Curme brought Taylor on strike to spinner Yousaf the same instinct cost him his wicket as he was bowled on 103 coming down the pitch. The Nomads were 143 for 9 when Jamie was joined at the crease by Charlie McGinnes, a last minute replacement for absent all-rounder Matt West when Sultan struck. Sultan, second highest wicket taker for the Surrey premier league last season came on 5th change due to a back complaint from last season but the only pain was for the Nomads. Bowling down the hill, he bowled full and straight to take the bails of Jamie’s wicket, to win the match for his team by one run.

It must have been painful for the Nomads to get so close and to fall at the final hurdle, though there were several positives to take from the match. A great fielding effort kept the total down to 144 in the first place and it's good to see the bowling unit so tight at the start of the year. It would appear the batsman have a few cogs to lubricate as runs need to be scored to master a tricky wicket at the Hilly Fields Oval.

The Hobgoblin Nomads look towards the two day Test match next week against rivals The Unavoidables as a means to get back to winning ways.

Johnny Blonde is a former editor-in-chief of The Leopard and a relative of Nomads spin bowler Jamie Curme.

Strongroom CC v HOBGOBLIN NOMADS at Wray Crescent, Islington, 19th April 2014 - A New Season

It has been three years since this blog was created and thus on the day of resurrection so this blog too has been resurrected! The Hobgoblin Nomads are a much changed side when considering personnel, but the soul of the team remains the same.

Thus it was yesterday, Saturday April 19th 2014 that the Nomads took to the field for the first time this season, and for the earliest start date in Nomads history. The fifth season began with the skipper Niz winning the toss, and electing to bat first on the artificial strip that the opposition were able to get at short notice. 

Dan Cambage (21) and Andy Schulze (12) opened the batting on a very spicy track, full of bounce and carry. They started slowly, with Dan aiming simply to find his feet again, and Andy taking the more proactive role in the partnership. Slowly, the runs started coming, with Dan swivelling to pull opening bowler Ricky (8-1-1-29) for four and Andy jabbing opening bowler Asif (7-1-1-25) powerfully through the covers for four. However, Andy's stay at the crease was ended in tragic circumstances with a ball that cut from outside off inwards, but that stayed horrendously low on a hitherto bouncy wicket. Next in was Newton Wijethilaka (5) who came in and immediately looked to start scoring but who slowly started to get bogged down against a very strong spell of bowling by Asif. First change bowler Grant ended Newton's stay at the crease by sending the stumps flying. This brought in the skipper Niz ( who immediately got off the mark with a cut between point and third man for two and soon afterwards a glance off his pads for four through mid-wicket. Grant then caught Niz on the grille with a rising bouncer as the pressure continued. It was during Grant's fourth over that Niz went through his shot a touch too early and sent a lofted drive straight into the hands of mid-off.

Martyn Williams (1) was Grant's next victim, but not before unfurling his favourite tickle behind point for a quick single. This united Dan Cambage with fellow power-hitter Robert Logan (29) who brought to the party a new, considered side to his batting never before seen, with strong, affirmative defensive pushes and quick, dabbed singles. Just before everyone had settled on the conclusion that Logan had reinvented himself as a nurdler a la Neil Fairbrother, out came the booming pull shot for four that for so long had been the hallmark of a Robert Logan innings. The Nomads were still on for a competitive score, despite the slow run rate, but wickets in hand seemed to be the issue. Dan Cambage became Grant's third victim being bowled, and at 84-5 at the halfway point (20 overs), the Nomads did look in danger of not even passing 150.

Himanshu, or Harry (4) came to the crease and was promptly sent back by left-arm spinner Joe for four which brought to the crease Matt West (14) who immediately struck up a good, banter-filled partnership with Rob, who by now was licking his lips every time the spinner ran up to bowl at him. The two partners in crime struck a 37 run partnership which included all kinds of shots and sledging (they were sledging each other...). The partnership was ended with a less-than-comical run out as Rob failed to read Matt's call thus sending Matt back from whence he came - the scorer's table.

Charlie McGinnes (5) offered Logan some good assistance before both he and Logan departed within two overs of each other. At this point, the Nomads were looking in serious danger of committing the cardinal sin of not seeing out the overs. Asif Khan (14) smashed some lusty blows as did Shashi Sharma (4) before the innings was terminated for 151, with five overs to spare. Cardinal sin committed.

The Nomads knew their score was under par, but they also knew they had something to defend and set about defending it early on with great effort. Opening the bowling were Newton (5-0-1-37) and Asif (3-0-0-23). Newton had opener Vinay pegged back lbw for 2 in the fourth over, and then had number three Asif dropped behind later on in the over. 5-1 could have been 5-2, and it seemed that this spurred opener Hasan (67 no)and Asif (62 no) to unleash the unrelenting fury on the Nomads bowling. No one was spared, with Matt going for 43 off his first change four overs, and Niz for 16 off his solitary over. Harry went for 26 off his two overs, and Charlie for four off his two balls. With no maiden overs being bowled, three catches being dropped and the victory total being achieved in 15.2 overs, it was quite a chastening experience but the spirits of the team remained undimmed.

Though it was quite a beating the Nomads took, as one Nomad in absentia stated, the 'cobwebs were well and truly blown off'. The bowling and fielding may have left a lot to be desired, but the season is a long one and the fun has only just started...

HOBGOBLIN NOMADS v Google & Wapping Sunday July 31 at Greenwich Park

A strong Nomads team lined up to face a very friendly and jovial bunch of lads from Google UK and Wapping Hockey club. Skipper Niro was surprised and pleased to be informed by Jim Miller, his counterpart, that the opposition wished to offer the Nomads first refusal on the choice between batting and bowling. Naturally, on a hot, dry afternoon, the Nomads elected to bat. Thus, a horror show began. After 6 overs, the Nomads were 4 wickets down for just nine runs, with Aza(2) and Niro(4) being bowled in circumstances beyond bad luck. Yet again Sean was pressed into counter-attacking the opposition, with a quickfire 22, before he was tragically stumped. Alex(13) offered some late resistance before the Nomads' account was brutally shut down for just 68 runs.


Needless to say, the Nomads pace battery launched into action regardless of the fact that the team had cooked up far too little for them to defend. Sean(5.4-2-28-2), Alex(3-0-19-1) and Isaac(2-0-22-0) all bowled their hearts out, but ultimately, it was too much, as the Nomads were beaten by seven wickets.


However what occurred next was down to puer love for the game aa the two teams agreed to tee off again with a 15 over shootout. The opposition, still padded up, were invited to bat again, for 15 overs. Every team member, bar the keeper, was given a bowl, and one of the highlights was seeing Luke taking another wicket, clean bowling an opposition hack 'n' slasher. Also quite enjoyable to watch was Sean and Tausef twirling up to the wicket to deliver some quite exquisite off-break bowling. The innings was closed on 119, and the Nomads sent in an experimental opening pair in Rob Logan and Luke Crimmens. Luke(2) shut up shop and played the anchor role while Rob(41) smashed the opposition bowlers to all ends, in a 65 run partnership. After Rob, and then Luke fell, number three Tausef showed the world why he is a Nomad by pulling, sweeping, driving and hooking his way to a swashbuckling 35, but the Nomads fell short with the score on 104 by the close.