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.
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.
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