The sun finally came out and ensured Nomads' second match of the season, at home to Wimbledon Corinthians, could go ahead.
This was one of the more eventful match-ups last year, what with Jim Joyce's phenomenal century, a 3 and a quarter hour innings from Nomads - our longest ever, and the acrimonious disputed pitch incident in September. Despite Nomads sportingly giving up our pitch last Autumn to allow Corinthians' title decider to go ahead, the opposition organiser told me this was considered a grudge match and they would be fielding a strong side.
Nomads chose an unchanged line-up with reasonable batting strength on a placid-looking pitch, but with the bowling appearing just a touch light as one Nomads fielder wasted absolutely no opportunity to point out repeatedly. Thankfully Raynes Park 3 is one of the worst pitches in London for acoustics thanks to its proximity to the A3 so I had to resort to lip-reading to get the benefit of the fielder's "wisdom."
Unusually, Nomads' assertive skipper, Emil Todorow, was talked into a 40-over game by a Corinthians side who enjoy nothing better than a marathon fielding session in 80 degree heat.
Nomads batted first and Mark Bradshaw was soon away with a classy off-side 4 off Shaan, a bowler who sent down an equal mix of away swingers, erratic stuff and off-cutters. One of the latter accounted for Mahesh Vyas, bowled round his legs in the 5th over.
No. 3 Prasanth Pattiyil came out and soon began to hit the ball hard and true. He certainly seems to have added more power to his batting this year but denied rumours that he had been working out in the gym, by stating that he has been watching a lot of IPL. 2 resounding 4s off Shaan and a superb straight 6 off Shaan's otherwise tighter new ball partner Malik provided quality entertainment the equal of anything on ITV4.
Bradshaw had done a good job to see off the opening pair and help us to 44 for 1 off 10. He got hold of the first ball from 1st change swing bowler Clifford, back over the bowler's head but uppishly and Deep Mid-Off took an excellent and important catch.
2nd change bowler Shoaib was a Medium Pace Spinner with an unusual action, possibly the pick of the away side's attack. He ended Prasanth's breezy 30 but was smacked away for 4 next ball by Chris Kee; one of only 2 boundaries off Shoaib.
Clifford removed Kee, LBW as last week and Nomads were down to 87 for 4 with Hassan and Abdul, the last 2 recognized front-line batsmen at the square. This stand seemed vital but only realised a still-useful 23 before the awkward Shoaib had Abdul lbw. Chris Kennedy fell 3 balls later. Hassan was starting to blossom in the 30s, and has had several useful stands with No. 8 Nick Lefebve, but when our star all-rounder skied a catch 9 runs later, Nomads were reduced to 121 for 7 and would gratefully have accepted a final total of 140.
Lefebve and Darwin dug in initially and their contrasting styles soon began to pay dividends. Darwin, the more attacking player, produced one gorgeous Cover Drive - the Shot of the Day. Lefebve set out to leave anything outside off stump and generally match Corinthians for time-wasting in an attempt to blunt their banter. Having said that, the atmosphere was fine, a good laugh in the main. Most of Corinthians chirping was directed at the 17-year-old Mohammed whom they dubbed "The Future." "If he's the future then the past is standing at First Slip," one wag quipped, indicating the evergreen Steve O'Neill Ramsadeo.
A valuable and pugnacious 8th wicket stand of 42 ended with Darwin holing out off the deceptive pace of Victor. O'Neill Ramsadeo trapped Todorow first ball - rather plumb. The veteran then asked 3 successive loud questions as ball after ball rapped John Crossland's pads. Lefebve instructed Crossland to use his bat but our keeper got his revenge in the final over as Lefebve produced a series of hoiks only vaguely in the vicinity of the ball. "Look at the ball," the No. 11 suggested, but his advice went unheeded and an LBW from the 3rd-last delivery was the result.
165 was a decent effort in the end but, with one very short boundary, a dry outfield and a good pitch with just the occasional low bounce, I can't say we were particularly confident.
Emil Todorow seemed to have added half of yard of pace to his bowling in this game and claimed an early scalp with the score on around 20. No. 3 tried to fight fire with fire and lofted 2 enormous sixes off Emil. There was no way our skipper was going to tolerate this sort of treatment and, fuelled by pride and fear of what would be said to him in the pub, he removed his tormentor next ball - admittedly caught at head height by Hassan on the boundary. Corinthians' innings then followed the pattern of last year with a remorseless and fairly uneventful stand of around 100 between Rahman and Clifford virtually sealing victory. Progress wasn't spectacular - the score after 16 overs was only 59 for 2, but acceleration after Drinks made the result a formality. 2 excellent catches in the deep by Abdul Khan gave the score some semblance of respectability but Corinthians clinched a 6-wicket victory, sealed with a 6, in the 34th over.
Man of the Match was Abdul who produce an excellent spell of bowling at less than 2 an over, 2 fine catches and his usual deadly throws, and 14 runs. Abdul clinched Fielder of the Day with his second catch. Prior to this the award was destined to go to Chris Kennedy who, despite being the oldest player on the park (sorry, Chris) and having apparently had a most enjoyable and liquid lunch, produced total commitment and a couple of spectacular full length dives to save a run or two.
Clapham Nomads lost by 6 wickets
Nomads 165 from 39.4 overs
Bradshaw 11
Vyas 1
Pattiyil 30
H. Khan 37
Kee 5
A. Khan 14
Kennedy 0
Lefebve 12
Darwin 18
Todorow 0
Crossland 2 not out
F. O.W. - 18, 44, 78, 87, 112, 112, 121, 163, 163 , 165
Wimbledon Corinthians 171 for 4 from 33.3 overs
H. Khan 8-1-28-0
Todorow 8-2-32-2
A. Khan 8-1-14-0
Darwin 4-0-46-0
Pattiyil 5.3-0-48-2
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