Clapham Nomads v Barnes Occasionals - 1/9/13

Nomads won a tight game at Joseph Hood by 14 runs on Sunday.
Inserted by Barnes on a slow pitch, we struggled to score freely against their new man Bunyan and the experienced trickery and control of Ollie Hogg and Keith Seed.  Hardly anyone missed out completely with the bat.  Mahesh and Darwin carved out a gritty opening partnership of 20 in 8 and a half overs.  The pick of the top order was the consistent Prasanth Pattiyil with a useful 21.  It was felt that 120 could be enough but a steady flow of wickets - caused by frustration with the slow progress as well as the tight bowling - and some silly run outs in the late-middle order found us on 86 for 8 as last man Emil Todorow walked to the crease.  Fortunately, exciting strokemaker Riaz Khan was just beginning to find his eye; he just needed someone to stay with him.  Cometh the hour, cometh Todorow..  He blocked everything Occasionals could throw at him while Riaz blasted his way to a flamboyant 52, his highest score for the club.  Riaz took a particularly heavy toll on Tom Hooker as he peppered the mid-wicket and straight boundaries. The stand realised an excellent and vital 44 before Riaz fell in the penultimate over.
Nomads appeared slight favourites and this feeling increased when Prasanth took a vital catch to dismiss Price with 12 on the board.  Sami, Hassan and Emil imposed a stranglehold for a while after this as Barnes struggled to exceed 2 an over off this awkward trio.  As last week though, the pick of the bowlers was Abbas who has been on fire since the mid-summer break. Fast, straight and with the vague threat of bounce, he ran through the Occasionals middle-order and achieved his first 5-wicket haul for Nomads.  I had to leave for work with around 12 overs to go and Barnes were something like 50 for 6, needing to score at almost 7 an over.  It appeared all over and I was surprised when Emil told me the next day we were possibly quite fortunate to win.  The expected dangerman Rohit Benjamin skied one to wicketkeeper Mahesh Vyas but this brought J. Bunyan to the crease and his excellent attacking knock made Barnes favourites for a period. It took a pressure catch by Abbas at Mid-Off to remove Bunyan for 37 and turn the tide.  Barnes bat right down the order though and Nomads were slightly fortunate that the light was fading markedly as last man Ollie Hogg was bowled by Abdul on the last ball of the penultimate over with the Away side 14 short.  Had he survived, it would have been Hogg and Keith Seed requiring 15 off the final over which one assumes would have been bowled by Todorow.  This would have been a mouth-watering prospect.  Three of the great characters of South London Sunday Cricket going head to head.  2 of the least hairy players against one of the hairiest.  I would love to have seen this but it was not to be.  Actually, sincere apologies to Barnes that several of us were late.  There was a large fire somewhere near Morden and traffic was atrocious but that it is not really a valid excuse.  We probably should have played 30-overs-a-side though.
Man of the Match was Riaz for his match-winning innings.  Particular praise also to Emil for his vital stonewalling and to Abbas for his 5-wicket spell.  Abbas was Fielder of the Day for taking what was probably the match-winning catch.

Clapham Nomads 130 all out in 33.4 overs

M. Vyas  6
D. Gunawardena  7
P. Pattiyil  21
H. Khan  7
Abdul Khan  5
R. Khan  52
N. Lefebve 4
Sami  4
Abbas Khan  1
E. Todorow  0 not out

F.O.W. - 20, 20, 33, 53, 58, 69, 78, 86, 130

Barnes Occasionals 116 all out in 34 overs (J. Bunyan 37)

Sami  7-2-19-1
H. Khan  7-2-9-1
E. Todorow  6-2-14-1
Abbas Khan  7-2-26-5
R. Khan  2-0-13-0
Abdul Khan  5-0-27-2

Clapham Nomads won by 14 runs