The 4-week Raynes Park Festival concluded with a visit from Surbiton Imperials, a team that hammered us in our one previous meeting but really should become regular opponents, given that they play several of the teams that we play; Energy Exiles, Barnes Occasionals etc.
A 12-man Nomads squad lent Mahesh Vyas to the 9-man opposition and Nomads looked powerful on paper, with enough bowling strength to have a shot at subduing a Surbiton side that have won two-thirds of their matches this season. Andrew West finally made his first appearance of the season in a Nomads shirt. A white one.
Openers Mark Bradshaw and Prasanth Pattiyil have been in good form lately - Bradshaw especially - and it was soon clear that this form would be needed against the lively medium-fast left-arm swing bowler Siddique who was shaping it it into the bat threateningly and finding a little irregular bounce. Several balls kept a touch low and another one spat like a llama and found the splice of Prasanth's bat, just looping to safety. A good contest ensued with several decent LBW shouts from Siddique but the usual off-side blows and sharp singles from our pair. The other left-arm opener, Dan, posed little threat until he switched to round the wicket in the 8th over and angled one in to Pattiyil's pads in front. A possible inside edge saved our man who looked in the mood to take advantage with a cracking straight drive for 4 off Siddique in the next over. Unfortunately the bowler exacted quick revenge for this with a somewhat debatable caught behind decision 2 balls later. 24 for 1.
No. 3 Bilal had decided that his first ball really ought to go for 6. He failed by a yard, but continued in this vein, showing a desire to "clear his left leg." A few more lusty blows followed before he edged one straight up vertically as high as I have seen a cricket ball hit and the keeper held onto a real glove-stinger.
Hassan Khan strode out and Dan was inexplicably taken off. He had 2 overs to go and had just bowled the Ball of the Day. I doubt he could have removed Bradshaw, who was looking rock-solid by now, but he might just have had a shot at prising out H. Khan early which, on current form, is a bowler's only real chance against the increasingly Bradmanesque postal worker.
This pair put on 80 last week and, having played out Siddique's remaining over conservatively, and played first-changer Tom with ease, looked in with a chance of at least matching this.
Drinks were taken at around 80 for 2 off 18 overs but didn't disrupt our batsmen's rhythm. What followed was an exhibition by two fine players on top form. The second change bowler was Geoff, who once bowled an 18-ball over against Energy Exiles that yielded 31 runs. There was nothing like that on Sunday but there was plenty of sound play and class shots; likewise against spinners Eric and Kit who could have been awkward had the pitch played up but, as so often at Raynes Park, the track looked tough but was really just a big softie. Leg-spinner Kit caused Bradshaw some problems with his googly but once Mark began to pick it - the bowler cocks his head to one side for the googly (sorry to give away your secrets on the internet, Kit) - he reverted to the leg break, which sat up nicely outside off stump, with predictable results.
There was so much good batting that I will just give the highlights as a murderous stright drive from H. Khan and a textbook off / cover drive from Bradshaw right out of the screws. Imperials began to call anxiously for regular score updates. After one over Crossland called out 112 and then six balls later (and distracted by incessant questioning and badinage from Andrew West) he called out 160 in error. The fielders were so demoralised that they didn't really question him.
The batsmen reached 49 together and Khan was first to the half-century, his 6th of the season. The following over, Bradshaw notched his third successive 50 which was also his 50th half-century in competitive cricket; a brilliant achievement from a fine and consistent player, and a feat which, at current rates, would take me another 980 years to match.
A stand of 133 was finally broken when Geoff bowled Hassan for 78. Nomads had some capable hitters straining at the leash; 2 quick boundaries from Sumith Prasanna were followed by a cameo 11 not out from Tahir as fingers were kept firmly on the jugular right up to the final ball with Nomads closing on an imposing 220 for 4 off the full 35.
Tea was enlivened by a pleasant pasta-based milky dessert supplied by Hassan to celebrate Eid. Emil Todorow was certainly licking his lips in anticipation of juggling his strongest bowling line-up of the season, starring the unique talents of Nomads' 3rd highest all-time wicket-taker, Andrew West.
For a horrible moment early in Surbiton's innings it looked as if we would be deprived of our star medium pacer as West stopped a firm pull with his shin bone. He hopped several times before falling to earth with an impressive thud. Fortunately, Sunday Cricket's Most Injury-Prone Player soon staggered to his feet, skipped in a circle, swore vigorously and resumed fielding as if nothing had happened.
Our very own Mahesh Vyas was opening for Imperials together with Siddique in an awkward left-hand / right-hand pairing. Todorow fed Vyas one of his favourite leg-side full tosses before sensibly concentrating on an off-side line. Ominously though, Vyas began to play nicely on the off side. He always seems to bat well against the Nomads. Left-handed Siddique looked classy and pushed for regular ones and twos. The batsmen had a good understanding for men who had never met before and some quick singles were taken. Hassan Khan bowled accurately but Siddique took a liking to his slower ball with two 4s through long-off which kept Imperials in touch with the scoring rate.
A double bowling change after 10 overs brought on Tahir, our quickest bowler, and Gopi, in sadly possibly his last game for the Nomads. Mahesh Vyas rather ran out of steam against Tahir and, after narrowly avoiding being out LBW and bowled in successive balls, did a little dance to the big paceman on the third ball and was bowled for 13.
Gopi, our top wicket taker of the season so far, took a while to get into his rhythm and bowled a bit short at first but Tahir soon claimed his second wicket with a sharp, low caught and bowled. No. 4 Steve Parratt looked awkward at first but soon began to spank it around quite effectively. Drinks were taken after 18 overs and at 75 for 2, Surbiton needed above 8.5 an over. Their fine record this season indicated that they might just have the men to achieve this.
Gopi was a different bowler after the break and soon rattled the stumps twice. Siddique had been taking a few quick singles to Lefebve at mid-off but, attempting another, his partner failed to back up and Lefebve lobbed a throw over the jogging non-striker's head into John Crossland's gloves. The keeper whipped off the bails with glee.
From this point, 90-ish for 5, Tahir kept the lid firmly on the scoring rate and the target climbed above 10 an over.
With victory almost in the bag, skipper Todorow revealed his master plan. Andrew West would star from the bottom end, with a succession of support acts - who had 2 overs each left - from the top end. West trotted up but Imperials immediately took a massive liking to him. Several big hits took Siddique past his 50 but West got the Surbiton star halfway through his spell with a crafty dipper which lured the batsman forward. Crossland grabbed the ball and had the stumps down in one feline movement. Their celebratory hug demonstrated the great affection these 2 men feel for each other.
Imperials' wicketkeeper/captain Johnny proved an even cleaner hitter and basically put West to the sword with a series of brutal blows - a 6 halfway up the poplar trees was the pick. A couple of his batting partners joined in the carnage. It is so difficult to hear anthing on Pitch 3 that I didn't catch the score until there were 3 overs left and it was a distinct relief to find 55 were still needed. Johnny had one more hoik at a West half-volley and the ball soared over the bowler's head. Long-on Lefebve made good ground to get under it but merely succeeded in not only dropping the chance but "tipping it over the bar" for 6. I didn't dare look at West; Bilal said he was crying but I don't believe that for a second; Bilal is a comedian and also, as 10cc pointed out, "Big Boys don't Cry."
Imperials closed on 186 for 8 and West on 1 for 68 off 6 which really should have been 2 for 62. To be fair, West didn't really bowl that badly at all. To me, he shouldn't really bowl at the death as he can be a little predictable. He has done a fine job for Nomads many times as 1st changer or opener.
This was rather a good victory against a side with many fine players. I can see that they would be a formidable proposition with a full-strength team. We may well find out next season.
Classy stroke play from Hassan Khan took our total away from Surbiton's reach but Man of the Match goes to Mark Bradshaw whose chanceless 81 not out underpinned the innings and was set up by negotiating a testing opening spell from Siddique. He also fielded well. Elsewhere in the field Lefebve provided a good moment - and a shocking one, Crossland was sharp, West was entertaining but the skipper's vote for Fielder of the Day went to Bilal.
CLAPHAM NOMADS - 220 for 4 from 35 overs
M. Bradshaw 81 not out
P. Pattiyil 12
Bilal 13
H. Khan 78
S. Prasanna 8
Tahir 13 not out
F.O.W. - 24, 38, 171, 183
SURBITON IMPERIALS - 186 for 8
H. Khan 7-1-22-1
E. Todorow 7-0-37-1
Tahir 7-0-21-2
G. Pala 7-0-33-2
A. West 6-0-68-1
Bilal 1-0-5-0
Clapham Nomads won by 34 runs
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