Clapham Nomads took on new opponents again at Raynes Park last Sunday. Palm Tree cc from Highgate in North London. It was a gruelling 40-over contest with the Away side having the edge. It was an interesting afternoon, though, as they have some classy and slightly unorthodox players. We had a good post-match chat in the Raynes Park Bowling Club and they brought 8 or 9 drinkers to our 4, which was a fine performance and the booze flowed as 3 of them had to buy jugs. They are quite a left-wing/artistic/literary/highly-educated sort of side. They reminded me a lot of Barnes Occasionals at their peak around 15 years ago. I was flattered that they had read my reports and had done some research on several of our players. I didn't realise this sort of thing happened so, for the benefit of our forthcoming opponents, the bald, Scottish Off-spinner Emil Todorow has been working hard on his Doosra (and John Crossland thinks it is all absolutely marvellous.)
FULL REPORT TO FOLLOW
Palm Tree 230 for 6 from 40 overs (Robins 76, Smith 53, Hamer 53)
Nomads bowling;
H. Khan 8-2-30-3
Sami 8-0-58-0
E. Todorow 8-0-58-0
Abbas Khan 8-2-24-1
R. Khan 8-1-55-1
Clapham Nomads 157 all out from 38.3 overs
M. Bradshaw 8
P. Pattiyil 23
D. Gunawardena 11
H. Khan 40
M. Vyas 3
R. Khan 29
Sami 5
N. Lefebve 1
E. Todorow (capt) not out 3
Abbas Khan 2
J. Crossland (wkt) 2
F.O.W. - 33, 50, 63, 74, 134, 145, 145, 146, 150, 157
Palm Tree bowling;
McCarthy 7-0-32-2
Maggs 7-1-11-2
Raj 8-2-13-1
Russell 6-0-29-3
Waite 4-1-26-0
Glazier 6.3-0-36-0
Palm Tree won by 73 runs.
Man of the Match for Nomads was Hassan Khan who had the best bowling and batting figures. He was possibly also the Fielder of the Day for a executing a sharp run out at an important time, but I will call it a share as Darwin worked very hard and did some excellent work. Very entertaining batting from Riaz and the opposition were full of praise for Abbas's bowling.
REPORT.......
New opponents Palm Tree, who play their home games in the sylvan oasis of Highgate Woods in North London, made the long journey to Raynes Park Sports Ground - a slightly less idyllic venue bounded by the A3, the London to Portsmouth railway and dense thorn bushes.
Despite a late start, the pre-arranged 40 overs a side was stuck to and the visitors chose to bat on an afternoon that was not too hot but was bathed in really fierce sunlight.
For the first 10 balls this looked like it was going to be fun. Hassan and Sami had the openers on the back foot, beating them at will. Wood then chipped a 4 over the slip cordon and the mood changed, with the No. 2 bat racing along with a series of blows, mostly intended, to the short boundaries. In no time the score was over 30 but a stroke of genius from Hassan brought Nomads back into it; a brilliantly-disguised leg-spinning slower ball deceiving Wood and clipping his bails.
There was a slightly hesitant period before Hamer and Smith began to stroke it around comfortably, taking Palm Tree up to a 20-over drinks score of about 85 for 1. Not devastating but plenty of batting to come.
Abbas, who bowled an excellent fast straight spell, eventually bowled Hamer just after the opener had passed his 50.
Another calm spell followed as the captain, the left-handed Matt Robins, played himself in. Robins confessed later that he had felt ill-at-ease during this passage but a resounding pull from a No-ball got him started and he began to dominate; being especially impressive straight and peppering the thorn bushes behind the bowler with crisp drives so often that the visitors posted a couple of men in front of the mini-jungle to prevent delays. An unusually heavy toll was taken from Sami and Riaz who rarely go for anything like the 7 an over they conceded in this game.
The heavy scoring and the constant left-hand/right-hand juggling caused Nomads' heads to drop a touch around Over 30. Fielding wasn't fantastic. A couple of chances were spilled at crucial times but we kept trying and Darwin, in particular, worked really hard.
The 35-over score was 205 for 2 and, had it been a 35-over contest, we wouldn't have felt totally out of contention with a strong-ish Nomads batting line-up and some short boundaries on a good pitch.
A smart Run Out from the bowler Hassan finally dismissed Robins for 76 and then Hassan took 2 in 2 balls the same over to give the score a healthier sheen.
Following the pattern throughout the innings, the last pair started cautiously but were cracking on in fine style when the 40 overs ran out.
The final total was 230 for either 5 or 6 (we were too exhausted to care which it was.) I don't think Nomads have ever made over 230 to win, though we did once successfully chase down 224 against Morden 1st XI (but only with the help of a spectacularly dodgy umpiring decision.)
A long-drawn-out tea was taken by players who barely had the energy to lift a samosa.
We resumed in the early evening and Mark Bradshaw and Prasanth Pattiyil began well, taking the distinctly sharp McCarthy for over 5 an over while the Medium Fast Maggs, who thinks batsmen out with variations - and bowled a deadly backspinning slower ball in his second spell - tied the other end up.
The accurate Raj and the slower bowler Russell - who looked unorthodox but was confirmed by Hassan to be deadly, wich lots of movement - took over. Russell made the breakthrough, bowling Mark with the score on 33. Russell also dismissed the two other Top 3 batsmen; Prasanth (23 - yet another good contribution from this consistent player) and Darwin in his next 2 overs but good scoring at the other end had taken our tally up to 63 for 3,
Mahesh was run out and was disconsolate ("I keep finding new ways to get myself out,") but then we witnessed a fine stand of 60 between Hassan and Riaz. Riaz clouted 2 enormous sixes and spectators began discussing his immense strength; ("Is he as wide as he is tall?" and "Does he do wrestling?") were two of the offerings. Actually, if Riaz and Emil formed a wrestling "tag team", I'm sure they would be even more successful than the Nomads are at cricket.
The returning Simon Maggs spoilt our fun by removing Riaz and then he caught and bowled Sami very smartly. Paceman McCarthy then had both top-scorer Hassan (a well-crafted 40) and Nick Lefebve caught behind and it was all over on 146 for 8.
9, 10, Jack did show some grit, batting on until the sun had dipped below the dual carriageway. No. 11 John Crossland said he didn't really see the point but we reminded him of the importance of practice. In the words of Mo Farah; "Practice...Protein...Practice." - Appropriate for John as he loves meat.
Glazier dsimissed our keeper in the penultimate over but Crossland and Emil Todorow had stuck it out for 6 overs for a season's best 10th wicket stand of 7.
A 73-run defeat for a Clapham side who were perhaps not fully match fit (we have only played a couple of games since June,) but let's take nothing away from Palm Tree. They have some fine players who performed well on the day and (hat-trick of cliches) were good value for their victory. Let's hope we play Home and Away next season.
We had a good drink afterwards. I don't think Raynes Park Bowling Club Management could believe their luck as three Palm Tree 50-makers (Hamer, Smith and Robins) brought jugs and the Old Speckled Hen was flowing. Palm Tree have strong Socialist leanings. One player told me he had played 20-20 for the TUC (Trades Union Congress for younger readers) against the CBI (Confederation of British Industry.) That must have even greater potential for needle than a Nomads v Energy Exiles game; speaking of which, we are playing the new-look, South African-accented Exiles this Sunday. Should be interesting as always.
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