Epsom 20-20 Championship Two - 12/7/15

After our mid-summer break it was back down to Epsom cc last Sunday to defend our 20-20 title.

We were second game up.  The curtain raiser saw RS Casuals grind out a 30-odd run win over our old friends the Old Leagonians.  125 to approx 95.  This game almost went the distance, so we were not on until after 4, making 3 full T20 games an unlikely proposition.  It was agreed we would have a 10 over a side thrash against the Leagonians followed by one for the purists, a 15 over a side war of attrition against the Casuals.

Hard hit again by Ramadan, holidays, injuries, family issues etc, Skipper Todorow had done well to assemble a passable squad including new men Oli Amos and Jon Roberts who looked impressive as we limbered up in the pre-match nets.

Nomads had only 2 men who had bowled in a competitive match this season and Todorow turned to them (himself and Andrew West) to bowl the first 4 overs in an attempt to exert early pressure.  An early wicket for the skipper seemed to underline the wisdom of this plan but then Richard Teasdale began the fightback for the Epsom-based side with a series of leg-side blows.  Fortunately he was brilliantly caught on the Mid-Wicket boundary by Jon Roberts before too much damage had been done.

The scoring rate settled at around 7 or 8 an over but a wicket or two ensured this was a tense contest.  Nomads' next champagne moment in the field was a well-judged catch by Mark Bradshaw at Mid-Off off the bowling of the temperamental but accurate Amateur Golfer West which helped to keep the scoring rate - and the swearing rate - to manageable proportions.

Leagonians had one particularly hard-hitting batsmen but Oli Amos and Jon Roberts kept things reasonably tight in the main, allowing him only one really big over.  Nick Lefebve was the 5th bowler and managed to confuse the batsmen with his low left arm before the star man managed to strike a few blows, ensuring the Left-armer went for 19 off his 2 - only just above the average for the innings.

Leagonians closed on 87 for 4 off their 10.

Nomads batting line-up had an uncertain look to it, with only Mark Bradshaw and Mahesh Vyas being established top order players with recent experience.  Neither Amos nor Roberts had played competitively for at least 4 years.

Disaster struck with Vyas playing on early and then Bradshaw, after 2 or 3 nice off-side boundaries, adjudged Leg Before.  The score was 29 for 2 when Oli and Jon came together but the pair immediately looked more than capable.  Oli perhaps the more correct of the 2 with some fine Cover Drives with Jon, perhaps the harder hitter, taking full advantage of anything loose, especially overpitched.

An exhilarating stand of 51 followed before Roberts fell for 22.  This brought Lefebve in with 8 needed for victory off 9 balls.  Fortunately, a short one down leg side was turned for 4 and then a leg bye brought Amos back on strike.  The debutant made no mistake, finding the Mid Wicket boundary, to leave himself on 34 not out and secure the victory with a full over to spare.

Old Leagonians 87 for 4 from 10 overs

Nomads' bowling

Todorow  2-0-13-2
West  2-0-14-1
Amos  2-0-11-1
Lefebve  2-0-19-0
Roberts  2-0-29-0

Clapham Nomads 88 for 3 (Amos 34 not out)

Bradshaw  12
Vyas   1
Amos  34 not out
Roberts  22
Lefebve   4 not out

F.O.W. - 18, 29, 80



Nomads won by 7 wickets.

Man of the Match - Oli Amos
Fielder of the Match - Jon Roberts.

Nomads kept the same order for the 15-over-a-side decider against RS Casuals; a talented and friendly Sutton-based side. 

Mark Bradshaw and Mahesh Vyas made a very decent start with Vyas finding the boundary with a series of leg-side pulls against anything short.  I had to leave with the score on around 40 for 0 off 6 overs.

We were never really able to cut loose against a disciplined bowling attack - a couple of wickets in the second half of the innings slowed us down as well - and we finished on 79 for 2, a rate of only just over 5 per over.

Casuals eventually ran out comfortable winners by 9 wickets, with almost 5 overs to spare, despite excellent Nomads fielding.  The highlight was a wicket for Andrew West which apparently was met with a memorable celebration from the big man. which gives him, tentatively, the Man of the Match title for this game.

Clapham Nomads  79 for 2 from 15 overs

Bradshaw  31 not out
Vyas  17
Roberts  14
Amos  not out 5

F.O.W. - 46, 72

RS Casuals  81 for 1 from 10.2 overs

Nomads' bowling

Todorow  3-0-15-0
Amos  3-0-18-0
Roberts  2.2-0-30-0
West  2-0-21-1

Nomads lost by 9 wickets

Man of the Match - Andrew West (his wicket saved us from a record-breaking 10 wicket defeat.)

So Nomads lost our crown but it was another enjoyable day and thanks again to Richard and the Leagonians for organising it.

FINAL TABLE
1. RS Casuals -  Played 2 Won 2 Points 4
2. Clapham Nomads - Played 2 Won 1 Points 2
3. Old Leagonians - Played 2 Won 0 Points 0

Man of the Tournament etc to be decided, and I will enter all the scores here when I get the book back.

UPDATE...Man of the Tournament was Oli Amos for a fine all-round performance to clinch victory in the first game.  He did nothing wrong in the second game either.

Top scorer overall was, as as in the previous tournament, Mark Bradshaw.