Finally, the day had come. After a false start on April 10th 2011, The Hobgoblin Nomads were finally able to wipe away the cobwebs and stride out into the sunshine of a Royal bank holiday to play London Fields in London Fields. It was the team's first trip to the heart of East London, and a small crowd had gathered before a ball had even been bowled and it grew as the day wore on. Losing the toss, the Nomads were invited to bowl first.
Out strode LFCC skipper Rhodri and his partner A. Smart. Waiting for them at either end were Messrs Denereaz and McArdle - the fearsome Nomad opening duo, pacemen of the highest order. Although Alex McArdle, affectionately known as the 'Bloodletter' drew first blood by removing the skipper for a duck, Smart had been making hay with several lusty, if fortuitous blows. Bowlers came and went as he continued to live dangerously.
It was the introduction of Tristan Bailey (2-45) and Jamie Stinson that prompted the fall of wickets. Jamie wowed the crowds, drunk on cricket and nationalism and produced one of the finest performances seen in a Nomad shirt with figures of 5-35 off 7 overs, including a hatrick, something never before witnessed in Nomad colours! Smart was a victim, sent back to the pavillion (Pub In The Park)for 67. Upon striking the hatrick, the Nomads knew that although the tide seemed to be turning, there was still work to be done.
It is at this point that one should mention the shot that Smart played, a half-lofted off drive hit straight at mid-off fielder Russell 'The Death' Roberts. As Russell dived to his right, the ball dipped, bounced and struck Russsel square in the face. He stayed down. Voices of concern were met with an eerie silence, until he muttered 'A-a-and here comes the blood!' He went off to stem the claret flow, and to post a picture on Facebook...
Despite notching up 100 from 12 overs, LFCC were only able to muster a further 80 runs in the 15 overs that it took for the Nomads to clean them up. 181 was the target and Rory Mansfield (34), progenitor of the 'Mansfield Cut' along with Tristan (0) were charged with setting up the chase. And it was from this point that things started to unravel for the Nomads. Tristan and James both departed for a duck and Jamie, hero with the ball for just 4. The opposition had brought on lanky leggie D. Krohn (4-35) who proved to be the architect of the Nomads' demise. Regular wickets fell despite the Nomads matching the run rate.
Rory and skipper Niroshan established a small partnership, but the decline became terminal, save for a sparkling lower order batting display as the crowd were entertained by Sean's dionysian batting(11), including a first ball six, Jack's debut knock(19) and Alex's measured 13.
Other moments of note included Nomad debutant Tauseef 'Here I Go Again' Chowdhury's catch a short mid-wicket off the wayward bowling of Niroshan, who with his other wicket had managed to successfully deploy his new mystery ball, the 'double drop long hop' which he had been lumbered with since the age of 13.
Thus beaten but unbowed, the Hobgoblin Nomads left London Fields taking postives from their first outing. Next up was to be their nemesis, their 'bogey' team, the Prince's Head from Richmond. Questions would surely be asked of the Nomads' glamourous top and middle order. Would they have the skills to pay those bills..?
LFCC (180 Smart 67, Rice 39, Stinson (5-35) beat HOBGOBLIN NOMADS (Mansfield 39, Jack 19, Niro 18, D. Krohn (4-35) by 53 runs
NB A big thumbs up to the boys from LFCC!
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