Clapham Nomads recorded their best performance so far in an already excellent season with a 4-wicket victory over Wimbledon United at Cottenham Park - one of our luckiest grounds. Superb bowling from The Super Six and inspired fielding restricted a strong United batting line-up to 141 all out off 2 balls short of the full, gruelling 40 overs on a very warm day.
A 3rd-wicket stand of 90 between Mark Bradshaw and Hassan Khan set up victory, with quick late runs from Riaz and Abdul sealing the deal. Wimbledon were a touch unlucky with 3 chances to catch Hassan going to ground, the first 2 of which would have put them on top, if taken.
FULL REPORT TO FOLLOW.
United won the toss and, unsurprisingly given the 78 degree heat, chose to bat. Nomads dug in for some hard graft against the usual strong Wimbledon batting order. Excellent tight bowling from Sami ( ? slightly quicker than usual at the downhill end) and Hassan Khan saw an early wicket fall and the run rate kept down. Drinks were gratefully downed at 20 overs with the score on around 55 for 2 but the dangerous Herbert still there. The innings was in the balance and much depended on our 4 change bowlers. These 4 did a fine job in limiting the acceleration, bowling 6 overs each and all conceding 20-odd runs. Fielding was as good as has been seen from Nomads. Inspired by an early direct hit from Abdul Khan, few errors were made or soft singles allowed. 5 catches were taken; the most memorable perhaps a slip catch from Mahesh Vyas who changed direction athletically while the ball was approaching him. Wickets fell steadily in the second half of the innings with Riaz and Emil joining Hassan in taking 2. The final United wicket fell with 2 balls to go and the total on 141. A good containing performance from Clapham on the best pitch we have played on so far, with short-ish straight boundaries.
Although the target of 142 would have to be our top score of the season so far, confidence was fair as we tucked into the excellent and varied tea featuring United's signature strawberry and cream scones.
The home side were missing their star paceman Peter Brown but Wijedena proved a decent replacement with tricky length and variation down the hill and he struck two early blows, finding Mahesh Vyas's outside edge for a good, low catch by the keeper and then inducing Prasanth to play across to a deceptively full-length ball which struck middle and leg via the bat and pad. Suddenly we were 10 for 2 and (Nomads' blog cliche time) an awful lot was going to depend on the partnership between Mark Bradshaw and Hassan Khan. There was an early let-off apiece for the pair with a Khan thunderbolt being put down at Square Leg and a Bradshaw top-edge dropping just short of Short Fine Leg (although this ball may have bounced three times before reaching the bat - I had a Senior Moment as Umpire and had to double-check the No Ball rule with Square Leg Umpire Todorow who admittedly does exude natural authority.)
Undistracted by all this, our batting heroes began to turn the innings round. Bradshaw looking unshiftable and not receiving full reward for some fine Off Side shots thanks to a well-set field. Hassan was fairly cautious until around 20 when a full toss received the full treatment and was past the straight boundary in under a second, almost via the bowler's and umpire's heads. This was Hassan's cue to take charge, with imperious use of his feet against some decent bowling, he raced from 20 to 50 at better than a run a ball. He reached his half-century with the score on around 80 and the fine progress continued to 100 at which point the century stand and victory seemed inevitable. Mark Bradshaw had done a vital job in the supporting role but the awkward Hasan pinned him back on his stumps and somehow found the way through with the score on 100. Nomads were still favourites but the match was right back on a knife-edge when Wijedena bowled Darwin first ball.
There were 2 ways to play this; the middle order to play themselves in and support Hassan, or for Nomads stroke-makers to blast their way to victory against the change bowlers. Riaz inevitably chose the latter option with a rapid and useful 13 and, while Hassan played the shot of the day with a towering 4 just short of the rope off the dangerous quickish spinner Flannery, Abdul did a Riaz impersonation also for 13. At 136 for 6 we were still well in charge while Hassan remained, but when he lofted a drive towards long-on there were a few anxious glances over at Emil and John to see if they were padded up. The chance went down though and No. 8 Sami quickly steered us to a fine victory.
A great day all in all. We witnessed dominating batting from Hassan (9 fours in his 73 not out) with typically gritty support from Mark. The Super Six all did their job and Abdul's early brilliance in the field inspired us to shine despite the heat. Wimbledon United are always very pleasant opponents and we look forward to the return fixture on June 8th.
Wimbledon United 141 all out (Herbert 41) from 39.4 overs.
Sami 8-2-18-1
H. Khan 7.4-0-14-2
Abdul Khan 6-1-26-1
Abbas Khan 6-0-27-0
R. Khan 6-1-22-2
E. Todorow 6-0-29-2
Clapham Nomads 142 for 6 from 35.5 overs
M. Bradshaw 27
M. Vyas 1
P. Pattiyil 0
H. Khan not out 73
D. Gunawardena 0
R. Khan 13
Abdul Khan 13
Sami not out 5
Did not bat; E. Todorow, Abbas Khan, J, Crossland
F.O.W. - 5, 10, 100, 101, 120, 136
Man of the Match - Hassan Khan
Fielder of the Day - Abdul Khan
Clapham Nomads won by 4 wickets
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