Nomads

Sun 18 Sept                                      Nomads                                  Drawn (yawn)

    We    210/9 in 49.4 overs  (Shanker 60*, Chaggar 38, James Pickles 32,
                                                Croom-Johnson 4/32, Gordon 2/59)
    They 110/9 in 48 overs     (Lamb 22, Gordon 18, Blumberg 17*, Shailendra 4/25,
                                                Syddall 2/5, Shanker 2/33)

The battle of the Nomadic sides usually sees Blumberg’s Nomads arrive with a strong team.  No fears again.  Their two opening bowlers hurtled down endless overs on a green top at Barnes.  KCC lost Matt Syddall in the second over but Pammi and Preetinder took on the opening bowlers with a few lusty blows and James Pickles, all timing and elegance, smote 8 fours in his cameo knock of 32. 

But we kept losing wickets at regular intervals.  Amit Shanker starred with the bat with a fine unbeaten 60 with Tabrez and skipper Nayar chipping in with 19 apiece to get us to a defendable total, though we thought at the time 210 was a bit light on this small batsman-friendly ground.

Nomads were confident of cruising to victory with Jono Gordon belting four 4s in the first 3 overs.  But he was undone next over by his own recklessness trying to steal a third run, Tabby’s bullet throw from the boundary leaving him stranded.  Akhi, the axeman, then tore the heart out of Nomads innings together with Amit and Matt Syddall to leave them reeling at 57/8 after just 18 overs.  Game all but over.  Only for Charlton Lamb and Michael Blumberg to play heroic match-saving innings through stoic resistance, blocking every ball for an hour or so, though we did have 6 overs to bowl at no.11.

A very creditable get-out-of-jail draw for Nomads, but frustrating for KCC who appeared bored by the whole process.  Not a great advertisement for modern day cricket watchers.  Nevertheless, the beer time was good.