Nomads v K.Lefthanders - Lefthanders' Innings

In previous years, the script for this innings would have been written before we took the field. Stout defence for the first hour would have been followed by a slight wobble and then more stout defence with Lefthanders finishing on about 65 for 7. However, Kingston are a team in transition and the old approach was there in the person of the very solid defender Nick Crouch but there was also some good straight hitting from his lefthanded partner which, with a far from massive total to defend, meant that Nomads could not go for all out attack straight away. Rob Jenkins took first over and kept it tight without ever really threatening. A few more shots were played off Emil Todorow but he it was who made the breakthrough. Shortly after an easy chance from Crouch had gone down off Todorow's bowling, Emil produced his Crafty Leg-Side One which Crouch deflected and had wicketkeeper John Crossland twisting and stretching to pouch the ball an inch from the turf in a gymnastic display worthy of Olga Korbut.
A period followed where Lefthanders seemed to be making a decent fist of the run chase with some good hitting, particularly straight. Andrew West, fetchingly clad in a figure-hugging blue T-shirt, took first change and immediately impressed as he was in 'bowling machine mode' with virtually every delivery on the stumps and at a length somewhere between good and half-volley. This was an interesting test of Kingston's intentions as a good attacking player can really get after West, but he rather mesmerises defensive players with his accuracy. Just when a few shots were beginning to flow, Ben Fewson swooped for an excellent catch at short-ish mid wicket; it was as if the former actor was playing the part of John Crossland in a docu-drama. 43 for 2 and it quickly became 51 for 3. Numbers 4 and 5 were together at drinks and were looking solid with 116 needed from the final 20 overs.
For a period after drinks, the young pair managed either 5 or 6 in each over and the chase was just about on, but a West maiden ratcheted up the pressure and then 3 wickets fell on 77 to just about kill off Kingston's chances of victory. One of these wickets fell in what will come to be known as West's Over. Each of the first 4 balls was greeted by a thunderous appeal (accompanied by baffled chuntering from the watching Lefthanders.) The fifth ball produced another appeal, and more chuntering which died down abruptly when it was realised that the bails were on the ground and all that remained was to salute a Maestro in action - Mr Andrew West.
By now, Gopi had joined the attack and he produced a brilliant spell of Medium Pace bowling. His first wicket was a caught and bowled with the bowler just casually raising an arm and plucking the ball out of thin air. A caught behind (off a quicker lifter,) a bowled and another caught and bowled followed but Gopi's fifth wicket was the best of all. Meerkat was singlehandedly chasing a target of about 15 an over and took a mighty heave at a well-disguised slower one from Gopi. The batsman had played his shot twice and was halfway through his third attempt when the ball rolled onto his stumps. A moment which combined comedy and triumph and gave Nomads 7 overs to take the last wicket. One of the last pair was the obdurate Dave Connett, a veteran of many many rearguard actions. 4 overs passed yielding only frustration before Ajmal produced a quick half-volley which Connett flicked up to Rob Jenkins at Short Leg. 11 Nomads danced in celebration for almost a minute before glancing around and noticing that the batsman was still there. Both he and the umpire had acknowledged our appeal but decided that there was too much uncertainty for the decision to be given. They could only be implying the possibility of a 'bump ball.' Nomads discussed this at length later after about 3 pints and, using knowledge of Physics and...er... other sciences, decided that the ball's trajectory meant that it could only have bounced once - and it definitely bounced before the batsman played it.
The mood was a little tense for a while and we apologise to Kingston if any industrial language was used. Ajmal treated Connett to a bouncer and then Gopi bowled the penultimate over without success. The stage was nicely set for the final over with a fired-up Ajmal roaring in to Connett. The first ball was a full toss which was safely dealt with to a roar of 'make it bounce' from the slip cordon. Ajmal did just that and produced an absolute snorter which produced an explosion of stumps and celebrating fielders.
So victory with 4 balls to spare in a fixture which can be hard to win. If ever a match needed a Camcorder it was this one. I would love to see the late disputed catch again, and also Crossland and Fewson's diving catches and, most of all, the dramatic declaration.
Man of the match was Gopi for a terrific spell of bowling which set up the victory. Fielder of the Day was John Crossland for 2 catches (one top-class) and throwing himself to the ground repeatedly as well as throwing down the gauntlet to the opposition with his inspired declaration, the Tactical Intervention of the Season so far.

CLAPHAM NOMADS - 176 for 6 Declared from 36 overs

Fewson, 52
Prasanth, 15
McConnell, 44
Ajmal, 0
Jenkins, 34
Ismat, 9 Not out
Lefebve, 5
Todorow, 1 Not out

F.O.W. - 43, 88, 88, 141, 160, 174

KINGSTON LEFTHANDERS - 113 All out from 40.2 overs

Jenkins, 6-1-12-0
Todorow, 7-0-25-1
West, 13-4-22-2
Ajmal, 6.2-1-23-2
Gopi, 8-1-25-5

Nomads won by 63 runs