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Eye off the ball?
A win and a couple of defeats to bring you this week. Big losses at Kempton and Egham Roses and a narrow defeat against Heathrow are disappointing, but when balanced against some well-organised events, attended by Nomads old and new and plenty of money raised for charity, who cares if the concentration waned slightly.
In this week's edition we have reports from Kempton and Egham, with Agricola and Heathrow to follow in the next issue.
We've no game this week due to the cycling road race, but never fear, we'll be back the following Sunday against Park Hill, so please come down and support us if you can.
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No game this Sunday
Due to the cycling road race across Surrey this Sunday, there will be no game.
Despite this message having been detailed in the lines above, it's being repeated to save Daisy's WhatsApp and email inboxes from incessant questions about who we're playing and what the team is. There's a little illustration too. Super stuff.
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Match report: Kempton CC, 14th July
Game number 14 out of a possible 14 games (surely some sort of record?) was arranged through the CCC with Kempton CC.
Our captain agreed to play a 35 over game so that we could watch the final being played at Lord’s.
After losing the toss we were put into bat; Daisy opening with Smartie. Daisy was bowled by an in-swinging ball after only two scoring shots for eight runs shortly followed Smartie who was caught behind again after only two scoring shots for 10 runs.
Next in was Rocky’s next-door neighbour who was caught out by their fly slip after two scoring shots for five runs.
Next up was the Genie and the Assassin who steadied the innings, scoring runs with ease.
The Genie was caught at mid-on scoring 19 runs and the Assassin went on to score 25 before being bowled.
The Statesman looked every bit as his name suggests and went on to score a fine 17 runs before being trapped leg before wicket.
Meet joined Rocky at the crease and held up one end while Rocky scored freely before he too was bowled after only six scoring shots which earnt him 20 runs.
Yakub, making his return after a long injury break, was a little out of practice and was bowled without troubling the scorer.
Rocky’s son and the Judge were both run out without scoring leaving Meet stranded on nine not out and the Nomads innings comes to an end having scored 129.
Following tea Kempton set about knocking off our run total and did so with not too much difficulty losing only two wickets.
The day was well supported with Mr & Mrs Horny and the Doc although the Doc did have to leave a little early as he couldn’t take the tension of the England New Zealand final at Lord’s.
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Match report: Egham Roses, 21st July
An overcast, but otherwise warm summer’s day greeted the Nomads at Home Park, Windsor as they arrived in their customary (and belated) dribs and drabs to take on Egham Roses.
Her Majesty – resident in Windsor Castle if the fluttering Royal Standard was anything to judge – was no doubt poised with one’s telescope to take in the day’s action from the Round Tower.
If the prospect of watching the Nomads wasn’t enough, an enormous red tent stuffed to the gunnels with unusual foodstuffs and booze – not to mention Horny’s God-only-knows-what’s-in-them cocktails – was surely enough to tempt even the most ardent temperance-enthusiast to abandon their policy of enforced misery, summon the barman and enjoy themselves.
It was of course the annual Nomadic Fizzy Pimms fundraising event in aid of Cancer Research UK and everything was set for a cracking day of cricket and merriment, but wait, where was the match ball?
Busy on a family errand Daisy has marked himself unavailable and unlikely to feature until late afternoon (coincidentally around teatime), but in a sudden last-minute panic of recollection hurriedly called Rusty to demand he take the match ball and kit.
Rusty would happily have obliged if he wasn’t at that second alighting the final train with any hope of making commencement of play – a normally important requirement, however more so today since Rusty would humbly be donning the gloves following Jack’s painful knock at Ripley.
With no other choice readily presenting itself, Daisy elected to make the trip himself after all, having moments earlier turned down Rusty’s request for a lift, hence the latter's subsequent unusual and perhaps foolish decision to put his fate in the hands of public transport (on a Sunday!).
After a short, Pimm’s-filled delay, the toss was duly won and the Nomads elected to field, presumably in the hope that Egham would be far too inebriated to bat properly by the time play commenced.
As it happened, the plan was less than effective. Sure, the lower order batsman were sozzled to a degree by the time they came to bat, but due to some wayward bowling – conceding 52 in extras (including 34 wides and no balls) – the lower order wasn’t required for some time and certainly not before the damage had already been done.
Egham piled on the runs with their openers posting 63 and 86 respectively and never looking like giving up their wickets but for a super catch and unbelievable one-stump-to-aim-at run out from debutant Sammi (Smartie’s brother).
The innings finally finished on 264/6 after 40 overs, with the Nomad’s bowling figures as follows: Judge 4.0.16.0; Icicle (Matt) 6.0.41.0; Lucky 5.0.21.0; Sausage 4.0.35.0; Sammi 6.0.39.1; Smartie 8.0.29.1; Zeeshan 5.0.42.3; and Dinesh 2.0.22.0.
The Nomads repaired to the pavilion for tea with a knackered Rusty wondering how Jack does it behind the sticks week in week out. The man's a legend. Rusty on the other hand was reportedly seen walking like someone who been star attraction at gay orgy for about three days after.
Following the usual excellent tea, the Nomads strode out to bat. Unfortunately that didn’t go to plan either and wickets fell at regular intervals: 9/1; 37/2; 37/3; 41/4; 45/4; 46/4; 93/5; 93/6; and 184/9 before finishing up on 208.
Stand out performances with the bat were Sammi 43, Rusty 25, Sausage 22 and Zeeshan 21*. In truth, the Nomads benefited from the Egham Skipper’s decision to ‘mix up’ the bowling, to the evident displeasure of their opening batsman who more than once demanded they “finish this off.” No doubt he was thirsty.
Despite some middling cricketing ‘prowess’ a fantastic day was enjoyed by all as Horny’s hospitality continued late into the evening. Well done that man, and of course to Sparkie who ensured pockets were emptied and £500 was raised for a fabulous cause.
Making the day all the more enjoyable was the proliferation of Nomadic and Egham Roses support. Thanks everyone for popping down and digging deep. Please take a look at our Facebook page for photographs (a few of which are detailed below).
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Birthday wishes
Happy birthday Brian who celebrated his 84th birthday on Wednesday.
Yes that is a pint of G&T. And why not indeed, especially when it's your birthday!
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It's a team game
Playing cricket is only a small part of being in the Nomads family and plenty goes on behind the scenes to ensure the club runs smoothly.
Players in particular are reminded to do their bit by helping out on match days. This means copying up the scorebook, scoring, umpiring and helping to set up and put things away.
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Nag, nag, nag
This feature may have an amusing name, but please don't ignore its serious message. Too many players are taking to the field without headgear, or worse, in branded 'leisure wear,' in particular the red 'baseball-style' headwear.
Please note our kit consists of Nomad-branded whites, jumpers and the red and white hooped cap (as modelled above). Please ensure you wear correct kit at all times.
If you need more kit, or have any questions, please contact Horny via: stumpyhood@aol.com.
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