Match 85 NOMADS v Roydon CC The Playing Fields Occupation Lane Roydon Essex CM195HL Sunday September 16th 1.00pm-Time game,20 overs from 5.30pm

Result:  Roydon won by 40 runs
Toss:    Nomads CC
Umpires: Derek Manners & Others
Scorer:  Caroline Hamilton
Debut(s):

ROYDON Innings
S Worboys    lbw             b Gregory 27 
C Frederick  c Croom-Johnson b Sawl    72
Z Hakimi     st Thanawalla   b Royals  98
R Oram       st Thanawalla   b Royals   8
M Young      bowled            Shawl    5
M Brooks     bowled            Shawl    4
P England    c & b             Shawl    6
N Brekkaflat c Thanawalla    b Royals   0
S Dinnes     not out                    0
Extras      (b8,lb8,w4,nb2)            22
TOTAL       (8 wkts dec,44.2 overs)   242 
Dnb:J Wolff,N Mann.

Fow:1-36(1),2-210(3),3-220(2),4-223(4),5-236(6),6-237(5),7-242(8),8-242(7).

Bowling-Shawl 13.2 5 28 5,Hamilton 9 1 51 0,Page 6 0 42 0,Croom-Johnson 6 0 40 0,Royals 10 0 65 3.

NOMADS CC Innings 
K Farrell       c Brekkaflat b Wolff   12 
T Brockton*     c Oram       b Dinnes   5 
V Kandampully   c Worboys    b Wolff   12 
T Thanawalla+   c(sub)       b Mann    83 
S Husain        c Mann       b Dinnes  23 
S Shawl         bowled         England 24 
C Royals        bowled         Mann    27 
J Hamilton      c Worboys    b Mann     0 
C Page          not out                 5
O Croom-Johnson lbw          b Mann     0 
ME Blumberg     bowled         Mann     0 
Extras         (b1,lb7,w1,nb2)         11
TOTAL          (All out,43.5 overs)   202

Fow:1-15(1),2-27(3),3-50(2),4-102(5),5-143(6),6-191(7),7-191(8),9-202(10),10-202(11).

Bowling-Wolff 8 2 36 2,Young 6 3 10 0,Dinnes 11 0 66 2,Brekkaflat 8 1 35 0,England 6 1 34 1,Mann 4.5 2 10 5. 

Top Order fail the Challenge writes Chris Royals 

The mighty Nomads arrived at the rustic Roydon ground in high spirits on Sunday. Possessing a side with a fine balance of youth and experience and presented with beautiful blue skies and a seemingly flat wicket, the assembled XI were confident of a good day’s cricket and eventual victory.

Nomads would field first and the captain had a plan – that a decent Nomads bowling and fielding outfit would be well placed to contain Roydon, and a powerful batting line up would see us to victory after tea. The President now felt that this sunny September afternoon was a test of the mettle of the assembled XI under fire.

Nomads fell victim to a proficient opening stand from Roydon, the openers seemingly untroubled by accurate opening spells from Shawl and Hamilton. The only burst of light came courtesy of the Shawl-Manners double act, and the respite was as brief as it was embarrassing. Roydon’s number 3 was the pick of their batsman, and they negotiated the wily bowling of Croom-Johnson and the Professor with little alarm. The next breakthrough would not come until the score registered over 200, courtesy of a sharp stumping from Tanmay who had dealt well with the consistently significant turn Royals was extracting. At this point Nomads were left wondering what might have been had we been able to rap the pads from the top end a couple more times as the quality of the Roydon line up now began to decrease rapidly. Taking full advantage was Shawl, who raced along to a fivefer in an excellent spell.

200-1 had turned to 240-8 when tea was taken and it really was anyone’s game. Following a poultry based perusal of the pavilion, it became apparent that the large quantity of roast chicken of years past was absent, much to the chagrin of the President who instead consoled himself with Tesco sandwich mix.

In reply, Nomads were one down early as the usually reliable Farrell found mid-off rather than the allotments. Soon enough Brockton and Kandampully were also back in the hutch, though Tanmay got excellent support from a Nomads newcomer - the superbly named Shiraz until he was disappointingly corked for 25, to be suitably dressed down by his father.

By this stage Tanmay was well set and the incoming Shawl looked to boost the run rate and support the youngster. By the time the game reached the final hour the run rate had reduced to sevens and continued to decline. Shawl departed in unusual circumstances having lost track of a high full toss, while Tanmay found some more support from Royals as the runs required ticked down below 50. Royals’ departure was swiftly emulated by Hamilton and Roydon were now on top.

To the crease strode the Professor, who had recently declined opportunities to umpire and serve drinks due to apparent injury. However, the calf injury cleared miraculously when Tanmay called him through for a quick single to the danger end. Tanmay fell shortly after, caught on the boundary for 84, and it was up to the senior pros to navigate the final 6 overs to safety. Croom-Johnson left Kandampully with little choice but to send him on his way having shouldered arms, meaning the President strolled to the crease to save the game. He saw off the rest of the over, he’d done this many times before. Page saw out the next over, he’d faced much more challenging spells in the Surrey Championship. Unfortunately, with two balls to play Blumberg was castled by a Yorker via his left boot. The President was distraught but Roydon celebrated well a win that it would be hard to say they hadn’t deserved.

The President’s bat, pads and gloves went flying and four letter words rebounded around the changing room. Nomads could be in little doubt that they had failed the test and the reputation of the much heralded rock like defence of the President's lay in tatters!.

A substantial number of Nomads lingered long in a local hostelry, taking advantage of fine pork sandwiches, chips and imbibed from the substantial real ale selection. Shawl did the decent thing and stood a jug for his five wicket haul, while as umpire Manners looked forward to next week’s game at Kew and his girlfriend’s trip to the Gardens, Page queried whether he might find the attractions of the temperate house more to his taste, while his girlfriend could umpire.

Aside from the result, an enjoyable day out under glorious skies, and Nomads will return in 2019 out to reverse this loss.

Previous Matches
2017 Cancelled Rain
2016 Drawn but very close
2015 Nomads won by 59 runs 
2014 Match Drawn
2013 Cancelled Too Wet
2012 Nomads won by 7 wickets
2011 Roydon won by 7 wickets