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.
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