Match 35 NOMADS CC v STRAGGLERS OF ASIA CC Ascot Park Wing Leighton Buzzard Bedfordshire LU7 OPR Sunday June 25th 11.30pm 2017

Result:  Nomads won by won by 9 wickets Match Drawn 
Toss:    Stragglers of Asia CC   Nomads CC  
Umpires: Michael Blumberg & Steve Various  
Scorers: Bill Rodwell Mike Robbins, San Gore  & others 
Debut:   Tim Smart

STRAGGLERS OF ASIA CC INNINGS
B McDuel    retired hurt             0
F Cross     c Wahi     b Smart      17
I Salter    c Wahi     b T Marshall  1
A Abbott    bowled       Smart       1
W Russell   c KSmart   b Page       37
A Hooper    bowled       T Marshall  0
J McDuel    bowled       T Marshall  0
G Humphries c Ormiston b A Marshall  4
C Brown*    bowled       A Marshall  0
A Trapanni+ c Dillon   b A Marshall  2
M Hunt      not out                  4
Extras     (b5,lb0,w3,nb2)          10
TOTAL      (All out,29.1 overs)     76

Fow:0-0(1rh),1-1(3),2-13(4),4-37(6),5-56(7),6-56(8), 7-56(9),8-70(5),9-76(10).

Bowling-Smart 8 3 11 2,T Marshall 9 1 31 3(w2),Page 7 1 22 1(w1,nb2),A Marshall 5.1 1 7 3.

NOMADS CC Innings
J Massey      not out               54
J Lascelles   c B McDuell b Hooper   4
V Kandampully not out               14
Extras        (b4,lb1,w1,nb2)        8
TOTAL (1 wicket,15.5 overs) 80
Dnb:A Marshall,A Dillon,T Brockton*,T Smart,R Ormiston, C Page,A Marshall, S Wahi+.

Fow:1-36(2).

Bowling-Humphries 4 0 22 0(w1,nb1),Hooper 6 2 20 1(nb1),Hunt 3 0 13 0,J McDuell 1.5 0 14 0,Salter 1 0 6 0. 

Stragglers Struggle to Score at Ascott Park

A day to forget for the Stragglers of Asia who were skittled for 76 on a flat batting track at Ascott Park. Yes, this was the same ground where Nomads & Kensington shared over  500 runs for the loss of just 8 wickets a few weeks previously.  Stragglers skipper won the toss and elected to bat.  

What followed over the next 1hr 50 mins was a combination of excellent bowling, firstly by the impressive new ball attack of Tom Marshall and Tim Smart, and foolish stroke-play. The madness started with McDuel retiring hurt with tennis elbow after two balls in which he did not offer a stroke to either.  Ian Salter (ex Wembley CC 1^st XI) was then caught behind by Wahi off the bowling of Tom Marshall. Abbott was bowled by a cracking in-ducker from Smart and when the classy Freddie Cross (ex Barnes CC 1^st XI) was fantastically caught one handed down the leg-side by Wahi, again off the bowling of Smart the visitors were effectively 37-4.

No let up for the Straggers as Andy Marshall replaced sonTom who had bowled with good pace in his 9 over spell, and Chris Page replaced debutantSmart. Marshall Snr was on the money from ball one, indeed his first delivery yieldeda wicket, caught comfortably by Kiwi Ormiston at 1^st slip. Andy Marshall took 3 wickets in total, as the  Stragglers lost three batsmen with the score rooted on 56, including their skipperwho had a heave at his 2^nd ball and lost his middle pole. 

However Russell was still there and knocking Page around quite effectively. The obdurate wicket keeper Trapanni was at the other end so Russell looked to farm the strike, however this backfired when he refused a comfortable single off the first 3 balls of Page’s 7^th over, hit the field with firm strokes on balls 4 and 5, then chipped tamely down Smart’s throat at long-on off the final ball to be dismissed for 37.  However, he was comfortably the top scorer for the Stragglers.

An early (and long) lunch was taken and after a sumptuous spreadplus a glass or two of wine / port, *deleteas appropriate* Jack Massey and Jeremy Lascelles strode out to chasethis meagre total. Although Jeremy wascaught at slip off the bowling of Hooper, Massey went into overdrive strikingthe ball crisply from the outset and winning the game with a contemptuous “switch-hit”of McDuel for 6. Massey 54 not out from just 47 balls. Kandampully the otherunbeaten batsmen and Nomads winning by 9 wickets having batted for under 16overs. 

There was talk of a 20/20 match to make the most of not only a stunning setting, but also near 80 degree weather. Alas, the Stragglers optedt o leave the ground and lick their wounds. Tea for 22 + officials was now tea for 11 + Michael Blumberg & Bill Rodwell.  A veritable feast indeed. Nomads retired to the amusingly named Cock Inn for liquid refreshment and banter in the later afternoon sunshine (mainly at Chris Page’s expense).

Nomads played Stragglers of Asia at the Hurlingham Club Saturday June 26th 1954. Nomads do not retain any details of the match.  Perhaps SOA do!