Clapham Nomads v Palm Tree - 8/5/16

Nomads were pleased to renew rivalry with talented North London side Palm Tree who had travelled almost the whole length of the Northern Line to take us on at Nursery Road, a venue which is several notches less idyllic than Palm Tree's Highgate Woods ground, but is nonetheless a functional venue which often produces a close contest.
Clapham were inserted and this soon looked a good decision by the Away skipper, Matt Robins, as we found ourselves on 0 for 1 after 4 overs, Mahesh bowled by Waterton in the third over.
Prasanth Pattiyil now joined Gul - both making their seasonal debuts and a pair that often bat well together.  Prasanth warmed himself up with 3 hard-runs threes and Gul looked solid in support. Prasanth had made a Nomads career-best 87 in his previous appearnace in September (also at the same ground) and he looked in similar form here with a string of boundaries before his partner fell for 14 out of a 2nd wicket stand of 53.
Prasanth received support from Hassan and Riaz (8 each) before he himself fell to Smith for a commanding 63 full of excellent leg side and straight shots.
Last week's top-scorer Abdul didn't last too long but there was then another flourish from Darwin and Zia with a breezy stand of 25.  Wickets were falling with alarming regularity though and once the Darwin/Zia stand was broken, Nomads quickly subsided to 144 all out and committed what Richie Benaud dubbed the "Cardinal sin of One-Day cricket", failing to use up 6.3 of our allotted 35 overs.  Star bowler for Palm Tree was Smith with 3 for 28.
John's verdict; "Good innings from Prasanth but too many wickets thrown away."
Anyway, a contest was on the card on a track that was producing some low bounce.
Abbas produced a hostile spell of pace bowling and Hassan was commendably tight as Nomads made a bold bid to stem the flow of runs from the usually free-scoring North Londoners.  If the bowling was good, the fielding was even better. Skipper Emil Todorow set an example with a neat catch.  Abdul was on top form.  It was the usual drill; let's take a quick single to that grey-haired chap; pick-up, bullet-like throw; stumps scattered; Nomads celebrating.  Abdul scored about 4 direct hits, 2 of which produced run outs.
After taking 3 big wickets, Riaz had to leave for work and I had to sub-field and soon forgot about my foot injury in the excitement.  Palm Tree seemed to bat all the way down in our previous meeting and, even when they needed around 35 off 4 with a couple of wickets to go, we were not home and hosed.  About 19 was needed off the last over but the batsmen couldn't get Abdul away and a third run out on the penultimate ball of the innings capped a fine victory.
I must point out the Palm Tree were somewhat hampered by the low sun right behind the bowlers arm late on at the Merton Park End.  It was almost literally blinding and we agreed to bowl all the last 4 or 5 overs from the Prince of Wales End.  I have never known this happen before, though opponents will not be surprised to hear that we have been involved in many late night finishes.  Freakish weather conditions perhaps.
Well done anyway, Nomads.  This was not a game we had expected to win.
Man of the Match was Nursery Road run machine Prasanth and Fielder of the Day was the deadly Abdul by some distance.

Clapham Nomads - 144 all out in 29.3 overs

M. Vyas  0
Gul  14
P. Pattiyil  63
H. Khan  8
R. Khan  8
D. Gunawardena  22
Abdul Khan   0
Zia  14
Abbas Khan  0
E. Todorow(capt)  0
J. Crossland not out 0
Substitute Fielder; N. Lefebve
F.O.W. - 0, 53, 73, 91, 110, 113, 138, 140, 140, 144

Palm Tree - 127 all out in 34.5 overs

Nomads' bowling

Abbas Khan  7-0-23-1
H. Khan  7-2-14-1
Zia  5-0-15-0
R. Khan  7-2-29-3
E. Todorow  2-0-9-0
Abdul Khan  6.5-0-26-2

Clapham Nomads won by 17 runs.