MATCH 47 NOMADS CC v Esher CC 47 New Rd, Esher KT10 9NU  11.30am   Friday July 20th 2018    
 

Result:  Esher won by 110 runs
Toss:    Esher CC
Umpires: Michael Blumberg & Paul Philpot
Scorers: Steve Brewer
Debut(s):Yusuf Jackson, Derek Candy.

ESHER CC Innings                     R  B   M  4s 6s
R Lowe        c O'Gorman  b Candy   10 31  37  1  0
P Blackhurst  c Lascelles b Candy    8  7  12  2  0
C Wincher     c Candy     b Jackson 22 14  20  5  0
O Crook+      not out               85 88 141 16  0
J Mills       c Stokes    b Candy   22 27  32  5  0
M Miles       c Ellis     b Candy    9 12  16  1  0
J Woolhead    bowled        Beri    99 82  66 22  1
M Michaelidis not out               18 
Extras       (b4,lb2w0,nb1)          7
TOTAL        (6 wkts dec,42 overs) 284
Dnb:C Parish,J Stevens,C Page.

Fow:1-9(2),2-44(3),3-44(1),4-96(5),5-109(6),6-252(7).

Bowling-Candy 14 2 41 4,Jackson 13 1 90 1,Thepan 6 0 58 0,O'Gorman 7 0 61 0,Beri 2 0 24 1.

NOMADS CC Innings                    R  B  M 4s 6s
J Lascelles c M Miles b Parish      32 41 45  6 0
K Bradley   c Wincher b Steven      39 53 75  5 0
S Beri      c & b       Parish       0  1  1  0 0
S Thepan    bowled      Michaelidis 25 27 34  4 0
S Dummer    retired hurt             2  6 17  0 0
H Morris    c J Miles b Page        19 22 17  3 0
A Stokes*   c M Miles b Page         9  7  7  2 0
Y Jackson   st Crook  b Page        10 14  8  1 0
J O'Gorman  not out                 31 32 25  7 0
D Ellis+    run out                  1  2  2  0 0
D Candy     run out                  0 11 15  0 0
Extras     (b0,lb1,w3,nb2)           6
TOTAL      (All out,34 overs)      174

Fow:1-54(1),2-54(3),3-91(2),4-100(4),5-131(7),6-131(9),7-142(8),8-143(10),9-172(11).  

Bowling-J Miles 6 1 22 0,Parish 8 0 42 0,Michaelidis 5 1 28 1,Steven 9 1 54 1,Page 6 1 27 3.

Observations and reflections of the skipper Andy Stokes   

 The Night before the match when I had 12 players and Woolly had 10 I proved that the eyes are open, the mouth moves, but Mr Brain has long since departed, when I cooked up the worst plan since Abraham Lincoln said "Oh I'm sick of kicking around the house tonight, let's go take in a show!” 

The Plan was give Chris Page to the Opposition and laugh heartily as he gets whacked round the park by the Mighty Nomads.   When I was out in our chase it looked like the biggest backfire since the Romans proposed, If we crucify this guy, the whole fuss will blow over.  
 
I had to smile on the morning of the match listening to the radio about the passing of one of the War’s spitfire pilots Geoffrey Harry Augustus Wellum. Asked in a 2016 interview what was in his mind during combat up there in the skies, was it fear? His reply was no, the Germans were making a terrible fuss all across Europe so, “you thought, ‘What are you doing over here? England is a peaceful place. You’re interfering with the cricket!”  
 
Esher won the Toss and elected to bat on a good wicket and lightning outfield. Derek Candy and young Yousef Jackson opened the Bowling for Nomads. Derek the pick of our bowling, a sprightly sexagenarian bowled a metronomic line and length with a little wobble and a little seam movement. He should have grabbed more than a 5-wicket haul for sure, but apart from the Skipper who proved the most reliable way to catch a catch was in one’s amble cleavage the rest of the team went about demonstrating remarkable ways in which one could drop a catch. Yousef bowled without luck and finished 13 - 1 – 90 - 1. Both Derek and Yousef bowled unchanged till lunch. Derek 14 – 2 – 41 – 4  
 
Esher went into lunch 140 – 5 off 27 Overs and I was thinking, god If only we’d caught a couple of those catches…. but nevertheless we are still well in this game.  
 
 
A Superb Lunch at Esher – Sanjay Thepan and Steve Dummer Discuss, Nomads did little justice to all those spuds and clearly Steve Dummer failed to drink enough Port to lubricate his Achilles.  
 
The Esher Batsmen were ready to go out after 40mins, but Blum was just starting his 3rds and the rest of the Nomads were tucking into the Port and the Strawberry’s and Chocolate cake. That easy relaxed attitude to matters at hand continued onto the field and with both batsmen Woolhead 99 and Crook 85* dropped in the first 2 overs after lunch, this didn’t indicate well for the Nomads. 12 Drops in total, some incompressible, Cubblingtonesk in fact: the only thing missing was SawRub Wahi dropping one off his head. My Impression the night before of Mighty Nomads had moved now down past Nomads to just Mads. My years of experience haven’t taught me much, but what I do know is, if you get a chance to send Woolly back to the pavilion then it’s very much best to take it. John played some magnificent and mighty shots all around the park racing to 99 in what felt like next to no time (62 Balls). Painful to experience yet a pleasure to watch, the ball being timed so very cleanly. The Skipper then more by error than judgement bought on Sanjay Beri, who had Woolhead playing onto his wicket with the very first ball, denying Woolly a great century.   
 
Joe O’Gorman (who would certainly test the validity of ‘we buy any car .com’s’ claim) fielding was out of the top draw and well worthy of mention. He almost took one of the great catches of all time, but didn’t, so not worth mentioning. Esher 284 for 6 Declared off 42 Overs   
 
A more than fair declaration – I felt that for our ineptitude we deserved to suffer for longer. It transpired that Nomads, if they could last the distance would get 42 Overs back.  
 
Our 54 opening Partnership would have been 94 if Esher had adopted the same fielding practices we had, but they covered the ground quickly, dived laterally and showed commitment and enthusiasm for the task. Then caught spectacularly when the chance came. Nomads batsmen generally showed promise, but not one capitalise too produce an innings. Jeremey Lascelles 32 was caught by a blinder at short cover (M Miles) but that’s why its best to drive on the deck. Kyle Bradley 39 looked respectable (but still 130 in deficit). Sanjay Thepan 25 threatened an innings. Sanjay Beri looked good on his way to the wicket and then back one ball latter. Hugo Morris 19 gave Page some of the treatment deserved but then drilled it direct to the man on the boundary, that’s why you are meant to hit the gaps. Joe O’Gorman 31* showed that he probably should have batted in the top four. Steve Dummer (who earlier gave me the best excuse ever for having to leave the field during play, “Stoko do you mind if I go off for an over to decant the Port”,) looked in fine form moving his feet well to Page but then snapped an Achilles, setting off for a single.  
 
         Hugo Morris' loquacity stuns Joe O’Gorman but leaves Yusef totally unimpressed  
 
Which only leaves me to report the soon to be included on the Honours Bord list Christopher Page 6 – 1 - 27 - 3. I might just stay in the house a while because in less than 7 days I have given cricketers across the land ammo to fire at me for years to come. From discussing “Lubing Big Ones” and “Working Cockers“ with Lady Carnarvon at Highclere to getting out to Page, his first ball to me, on this day. Well done Chris!. 
 
                                     The Legend that Is – Christopher Page  
 
Nomads would have received 42 overs in return, but only managed to Bat 34 all out for a well below par 174. 
 
So in conclusion. The Fixture is two years old – currently standing at Nomads 0 Esher 1 Draw 1. I aim to be an appreciative Leader in the spirt of Dianne Whitney who said ‘whatever the question the answer is love’. As an Appreciative leader one should look at not differences or what divides but rather what unites us. Very sadly when two teams meet on a Saturday nowadays it feels solely about what divides us. Cricket is what unites us all, so on reflection I will be kinder to Pagie not looking at the differences between us but at the cricket that unites us, and therefore not cast him off so readily. A positive personal step; I’m not quite ready to look at what unites me with Chipstead, Couldson and WaxxCuxxians yet. 
 
Even Andrew Smith and Blunderbuss are United – At the top of the Wickets Taken Table 2000 to Present – 270 Each – If that doesn’t make them each want to come back and burgle a wicket I don’t know what will. 1,Page 6 1 27 3. 

Thanks to John Woolhead and all the Esher Team and thanks to Duncan and all of the Catering staff (lunch, tea and curry all first-class), thanks to my men, collectively you all made it a most enjoyable occasion.Thank you very much to our dependable scorer Steve Brewer and thank you to the Mighty Blunderbuss for umpiring.

The last two years have been played in that great united spirit (Exactly what I would expect from a Woolly XI) It’s good to see men walking after nicking one and the Umpires treated with respect. So, it just leaves me to say that I love you all, but questions will have to be asked, heads will role and we will have to come back stronger next year. If we don’t our performance level will mean we will end up with fixtures against the likes of Peckham Urinals where lunch and tea will not be up to scratch with possibly those yellow ice cakes.

Or perhaps we should change the skipper(Ed.)!

Previous Matches  
2017 Match Drawn