The Nomad cricketers scored a resounding victory over their long term adversaries, the Indians, on Sunday, May 6. Chasing an Indian total of 179 all out, the Nomads cruised to victory at 180-7 well inside the allotted 30 overs. A strong all-round Nomad performance combined with less penetrating bowling than usual from their opponents were the key determining factors.
Due to a slight lack of personnel, the Indians batted first - it is a rare occasion when Hartley actually has the opportunity to flick a coin these days...... The innings got off to an excellent start with Mannish racing to 24 with a flurry of well struck boundaries. He was well supported by a slightly less belligerent Harbinder (37) who played a solid sheet anchor role. It came as a surprise to all that the opening partnership was broken by a spectacular one-handed catch from Faisal off his own bowling to send a clearly disappointed Manish back to the hutch.
Thereafter, Hartley changed his bowlers regularly - it is not clear whether this was a measure of tactical cunning or fear that none of them could bowl more than two consecutive straight overs. However, the wickets began to fall and the run rate dropped considerably. The Nomads, with the odd, inevitable, exception, performed well in the field - with particular mentions for Smith behind the stumps and Barker for an amazing one handed stop (drop catch) from a full-blooded Rashpal pull at short mid-wicket. Even more amazing than the stop was that Barker failed to call for medical attention in the immediate aftermath.
It was not until Khalid (36) came to the crease that the innings regained some momentum. He received good support from Jagar (18) and Jony (16), but the bowlers stuck to their task well with Barker, Paling and the returning Bailey each capturing two wickets. The fielders caught well and the innings was rounded off in the 27th over with an excellently judged effort by Warren Derrick covering a lot of ground from mid-off.
The Nomads, with Bailey at 11, seemed to have one of their strongest batting line-ups of the season and the openers strode to the wicket with an air of confidence. However, the visit for Hartley was to be short lived as he succumbed to a third attempt catch on the deep cover boundary. Paling was soon to follow after tickling a leg side delivery to the keeper. Staunton (19) came to join Barker (41*) in the middle in a steady partnership of 41 for the third wicket. Both batsmen placed their shots well and kept the board ticking at an agreeable rate. Staunton's demise to a ball he played over and around brought the in-form Smith (36*) to the wicket and the scoring rate rapidly rose.
Smith struck the ball hard and clean, with a towering six over long-on the shot of his innings. The unfortunate Gray fell to his second successive run out decision, although he would be first to admit that waving the bat at the pavilion instead of sliding it in was not the best choice that he will ever make. Smith was then joined by Faisal (35*) in a stand of 57 in only 5 overs. After an encouraging start, Faisal was slightly fortuitous to see Rashpal and the keeper go after the same skied drive and comprehensively fail to get any of their combined 4 hands on it. After this the batsman cashed in with a series of effortless trademark drives.
Whilst three more wickets were lost, Bailey (11*) and the returning Barker steered Nomads to a comfortable 3 wicket victory in the 26th over, with the former striking the winning boundary through mid-on.
The win set the Nomads up well for the notoriously tough tour to Angeles City.