Nomads beat Energy Exiles by 7 wickets at Abbey Rec. Exiles were depleted but, thanks to Hassan for finding them some extra players - including former Nomads 20-20 hero Bilal - they were able to put a side out.
Energy Exiles 117 all out from 32.2 overs
Nomads' bowling
Sami 6.2-2-17-3
Emil 7-0-21-0
Abbas 7-1-30-4
Zia 7-1-16-2
KK 5-0-28-0
Clapham Nomads 120 for 3 from 25.3 overs
Mahesh 7
Darwin 16
Javed 25
Hassan 37 not out
Riaz 19 not out
Did not bat; Zia, KK, Abbas, Sami, Emil (capt), John (Wkt)
F.O.W. - 27, 35, 87
More on this and other recent games to follow soon.
THERE IS NO MATCH NEXT SUNDAY 27th AUGUST AS IT IS BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND WHICH IS ALWAYS A PROBLEM, (We have had many games cancelled on this date)
UPDATE ON EXILES' MATCH;
This game against our fiercest rivals but closest cricketing friends the Energy Exiles looked in doubt the evening before the match as Exiles were down to 6 or 7 players but Emil and Hassan got together to save the day with Hassan finding 3 or 4 extra players to bolster the away side. I'm glad he did as this is always a fixture to savour, particularly as Nomads managed to record our first victory over Energy for 3 years. At that time, 2014, Exiles were riding high but Hassan played probably the finest innings ever seen from a Nomads player to secure victory. This season, Exiles have been struggling a little for players but they are still very hard to beat.
Energy won the toss and elected to bat on a strip at Abbey Rec, which used to be Merton's best batting venue but must now tip its hat to Cottenham Park in this respect. This track was rather worn and tired. Exiles found it hard going against some excellent pace and seam bowling from Sami, Abbas and Zia - backed up by the trickery and guile of Emil and KK. The Away side had a fine half-century from skipper Chris Plume to thank (along with sensible support from Andy Wingfield) for achieving some kind of respectability on 117 all out. This is a total that has won several Exiles/Nomads games and come close to winning others so we could not be complacent, given our historical tendency to freeze against these opponents.
An unfortunate early-ish run out saw off Mahesh and then, when Darwin fell on 35 for 2, we had reached a point when less ruthless Nomads line-ups from the past might have thrown it away. We have added a streak of steel to our batting this year though. A useful 25 from Javed was followed by a very controlled 37 not out from Hassan; unusually for him, there was not a single boundary in this knock, but it was a vital innings. Riaz then helped to shove us over the line with 4 boundaries in a cameo 19.
A very satisfying win for Nomads.
Man of the Match - Abbas's spell of 4 for 30 was high-class fast bowling but winning is all-important against the Exiles and the sheer professionalism of Hassan's innings made him Man of the Match.
Fielder of the Day - I missed this game due to work and no-one particularly mentioned the fielding afterwards; but Zia took 2 catches so that is good enough for me.
Nomads won by 7 wickets.
Monday 21 August 2017
Thursday 17 August 2017
Banstead v Clapham Nomads - 13/8/17
Banstead 196 for 9 declared from 39.5 overs
Nomads' bowling;
Sami 7-1-11-0
Emil 7-0-31-1
Abbas 7-0-43-1
Zia 7-0-44-0
KK 5-0-22-4
Hassan 4-0-35-1
Riaz 1-0-1-1
Clapham Nomads 200 for 6 from 36.2 overs
Mahesh 2
Darwin 25
Javed 0
Hassan 54
Riaz 10
Zia not out 88
KK 1
Abbas not out 2
Did not bat; Sami, Emil (capt), John (Wkt)
F.O.W. - 34, 38, 53, 73, 151, 187
Clapham Nomads won by 4 wickets
Man of the Match - Zia
Fielder of the Day - John.
REPORT TO FOLLOW
REPORT;
Nomads had a home pitch and opponents - Burgh Heath - lined up but the Surrey side were unable to get a team out - they did seem to be in transition when we played them in April.
I thought we were going to miss out as masses of home teams were circling like hungry vultures around the handful of sides who were looking for an Away game. In the end, I had to settle for an Away game but the pain of missing out on a few quid was alleviated by the knowledge that we would be playing on one of the most picturesque grounds in Surrey. Not that I would be able to attend; it's work work work work work work at the moment but at least Nomads always seem to win when I don't turn up.
We last played at Banstead in 2002 and held on for a losing draw. I think it was Abdul's debut. Nomads are much stronger this season though, and Banstead had assured me they were Weak-Medium, so we looked set for a decent game.
As ever with this type of opponent, the pitch was excellent and the Home side had its share of well-coached youngsters who are very hard to shift on a good track. Banstead did bat well but Nomads kept their shape with the ball and in the field. Sami, although he didn't get a wicket, had absolutely excellent figures, going for only 11 off his 7 overs. This is some achievement on such a good wicket - equivalent to bowling a couple of maidens in a T-20. It was KK, slightly unorthodox and with a little more variety than some of the other bowlers, who really found the key and he took 4 for 22. The fielding looks in the book as if it was a great effort with 5 catches taken and a run out. Banstead declared on 196 for 9.
Clapham were up against a high class opening bowler in Kugathas and, this being a time game, he got through 13 overs taking 4 for 43 with 6 maidens. In many seasons, that would have been crucial, but this is one of the best batting line-ups Nomads have been able to boast and we chased down a famous victory. A cracking start from Darwin with a rapid 25 had us 34 for 0. A mini-collapse dragged us down to 73 for 4 but this brought together the Dream Team of Hassan and Zia and this pair have been mostly unstoppable this season. Hassan fell just after reaching a vital half-century to make the score 151 for 5. Zia then took over and put on 36 for the 6th wicket with KK. (KK only scored 1 of these but played a useful supporting role.)
Zia just got better and better and raced from 60 to victory with three sixes and a couple of fours with Abbas keeping the other end intact. Zia was 88 when we ran out of target but he would surely have made his first Nomads century had Banstead scored 20 or so more.
An excellent and enjoyable day out and a good warm-up for the important business - The Exiles next week.
Nomads won by 4 wickets
Nomads' bowling;
Sami 7-1-11-0
Emil 7-0-31-1
Abbas 7-0-43-1
Zia 7-0-44-0
KK 5-0-22-4
Hassan 4-0-35-1
Riaz 1-0-1-1
Clapham Nomads 200 for 6 from 36.2 overs
Mahesh 2
Darwin 25
Javed 0
Hassan 54
Riaz 10
Zia not out 88
KK 1
Abbas not out 2
Did not bat; Sami, Emil (capt), John (Wkt)
F.O.W. - 34, 38, 53, 73, 151, 187
Clapham Nomads won by 4 wickets
Man of the Match - Zia
Fielder of the Day - John.
REPORT TO FOLLOW
REPORT;
Nomads had a home pitch and opponents - Burgh Heath - lined up but the Surrey side were unable to get a team out - they did seem to be in transition when we played them in April.
I thought we were going to miss out as masses of home teams were circling like hungry vultures around the handful of sides who were looking for an Away game. In the end, I had to settle for an Away game but the pain of missing out on a few quid was alleviated by the knowledge that we would be playing on one of the most picturesque grounds in Surrey. Not that I would be able to attend; it's work work work work work work at the moment but at least Nomads always seem to win when I don't turn up.
We last played at Banstead in 2002 and held on for a losing draw. I think it was Abdul's debut. Nomads are much stronger this season though, and Banstead had assured me they were Weak-Medium, so we looked set for a decent game.
As ever with this type of opponent, the pitch was excellent and the Home side had its share of well-coached youngsters who are very hard to shift on a good track. Banstead did bat well but Nomads kept their shape with the ball and in the field. Sami, although he didn't get a wicket, had absolutely excellent figures, going for only 11 off his 7 overs. This is some achievement on such a good wicket - equivalent to bowling a couple of maidens in a T-20. It was KK, slightly unorthodox and with a little more variety than some of the other bowlers, who really found the key and he took 4 for 22. The fielding looks in the book as if it was a great effort with 5 catches taken and a run out. Banstead declared on 196 for 9.
Clapham were up against a high class opening bowler in Kugathas and, this being a time game, he got through 13 overs taking 4 for 43 with 6 maidens. In many seasons, that would have been crucial, but this is one of the best batting line-ups Nomads have been able to boast and we chased down a famous victory. A cracking start from Darwin with a rapid 25 had us 34 for 0. A mini-collapse dragged us down to 73 for 4 but this brought together the Dream Team of Hassan and Zia and this pair have been mostly unstoppable this season. Hassan fell just after reaching a vital half-century to make the score 151 for 5. Zia then took over and put on 36 for the 6th wicket with KK. (KK only scored 1 of these but played a useful supporting role.)
Zia just got better and better and raced from 60 to victory with three sixes and a couple of fours with Abbas keeping the other end intact. Zia was 88 when we ran out of target but he would surely have made his first Nomads century had Banstead scored 20 or so more.
An excellent and enjoyable day out and a good warm-up for the important business - The Exiles next week.
Nomads won by 4 wickets
Wednesday 9 August 2017
Wimbledon United v Clapham Nomads - 6/8/17
A brilliant 102 from Hassan Khan led Nomads to a 100-run victory over Wimbledon United at Cottenham Park. What more can you say about the man? He is a genius. He is now getting close to 5,500 runs for the club. This was his third century of the season and his 8th or 9th - or possibly even 10th - for Nomads.
Nomads batted first by agreement to enable United to set up a post-match barbecue to mark their captain Dave Hitchman's last game for the club this season - I originally thought this was his last-ever game as he is going to work in Greece (he would surely have qualified for the Greek National Side within a few years and maybe played in the final of the 20-20 Balkan Cup against a Bulgarian line-up managed by Emil Todorow); however, it turns out he will be back next year which is good as he is a nice guy, even if he tends to score massive amounts of runs against us.
Anyway, it was good to see Abdul back for the Nomads and he opened the batting with the ever-consistent Mahesh Vyas.. An early-ish wicket brought Javed to the crease. He won this match for us last year and showed similar form here with a very entertaining 40. The team score was only 69 when he was out so it was a dominant knock. Hassan then took over with a masterful, controlled innings, with best support coming from Darwin(28) and KK(27). Nomads rattled up 258 for 8 off the full 40 which is the largest total by either side in a match between these 2 sides.
Our chances of victory (? 90%) went up to about 99% when Dave Hitchman fell to Sami second ball - a rare failure against the Nomads. Sami maintained his form for a fine spell of 2 for 15 off 5 overs. United do bat pretty much all the way down and their number 6 hit a rapid 90-odd but a very impressive and hostile spell of pace bowling from Abbas kept is in the box-seat and 3 wickets in 11 balls from Javed at the end wrapped up a satisfying victory - our 5th in 11 games (6 defeats) against these opponents.
Clapham Nomads 258 for 8 from 40 overs
Mahesh 24
Abdul 5
Javed 40
Hassan 102
Darwin 28
Zia 3
KK 27
Abbas not out 5
Emil 0
Sami not out 3
Did not bat; John
F.O.W. - 17, 69, 81, 159, 183, 231, 255, 256
Wimbledon United 158 all out from 31.5 overs
Nomads' bowling
Sami 5-0-15-2
Zia 8-0-48-0
Abbas 8-0-25-4
Hassan 3-0-25-0
KK 6-0-33-1
Javed 1.5-0-6-3
Clapham Nomads won by 100 runs
Man of the Match - Hassan
Fielder of the Day - Zia
Nomads batted first by agreement to enable United to set up a post-match barbecue to mark their captain Dave Hitchman's last game for the club this season - I originally thought this was his last-ever game as he is going to work in Greece (he would surely have qualified for the Greek National Side within a few years and maybe played in the final of the 20-20 Balkan Cup against a Bulgarian line-up managed by Emil Todorow); however, it turns out he will be back next year which is good as he is a nice guy, even if he tends to score massive amounts of runs against us.
Anyway, it was good to see Abdul back for the Nomads and he opened the batting with the ever-consistent Mahesh Vyas.. An early-ish wicket brought Javed to the crease. He won this match for us last year and showed similar form here with a very entertaining 40. The team score was only 69 when he was out so it was a dominant knock. Hassan then took over with a masterful, controlled innings, with best support coming from Darwin(28) and KK(27). Nomads rattled up 258 for 8 off the full 40 which is the largest total by either side in a match between these 2 sides.
Our chances of victory (? 90%) went up to about 99% when Dave Hitchman fell to Sami second ball - a rare failure against the Nomads. Sami maintained his form for a fine spell of 2 for 15 off 5 overs. United do bat pretty much all the way down and their number 6 hit a rapid 90-odd but a very impressive and hostile spell of pace bowling from Abbas kept is in the box-seat and 3 wickets in 11 balls from Javed at the end wrapped up a satisfying victory - our 5th in 11 games (6 defeats) against these opponents.
Clapham Nomads 258 for 8 from 40 overs
Mahesh 24
Abdul 5
Javed 40
Hassan 102
Darwin 28
Zia 3
KK 27
Abbas not out 5
Emil 0
Sami not out 3
Did not bat; John
F.O.W. - 17, 69, 81, 159, 183, 231, 255, 256
Wimbledon United 158 all out from 31.5 overs
Nomads' bowling
Sami 5-0-15-2
Zia 8-0-48-0
Abbas 8-0-25-4
Hassan 3-0-25-0
KK 6-0-33-1
Javed 1.5-0-6-3
Clapham Nomads won by 100 runs
Man of the Match - Hassan
Fielder of the Day - Zia
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)