MATCH 29 Nomads CC v Marlow Park CC Higginson Park Marlow Bucks Sunday July 7rd 2012 1.00pm SL7 2AE 

Toss:    Marlow Park won the toss
Result:  Marlow Park won by 26 runs
Umpires: Various
Scorers: M Barlowe
Debut(s):David Williamsasdf

MARLOW PARK CC Innings
P Stephens     c Williams b Shawl     0
M Carter       bowled       B Smith  22
Kim Barlow     c & b        Shawl     5
T Gorman Jones c B Smith  b Chowdary 69
I Cameron      lbw        b B Smith   0
D Hawkins      c Shawl    b Khan     32
R Cavanagh     lbw        b Khan     25
W Hellyer      lbw        b Khan     12
S Cooke        not out                2
F Alderman     bowled       Shawl     1
A Head         c A Smith  b Shawl     9
Extras        (b9,lb5,w3,nb1)        18
TOTAL         (All out,43.4 overs)  196

Fow:1-3(1),2-9(3),3-86(2)4-86(5),5-126(4),6-`146(7),8-184(7),9-191(10),10-195.

Bowling-Shawl 8.4 1 22 4,A Smith 9 3 28 0,B Smith 7 0 34 2,Brockton 5 0 28 0,Khan 9 0 37 3,Chaudary 5 0 33 1.

NOMADS CC Innings
D Williams+  c Carter       b Cooke        20
C Peerless   bowled           Gorman Jones  2
T Brockton * c Cameron      b Head         32
D Steele     c Gorman Jones b Stephens      0
A Smith      c Cameron      b Head         14
C Wilson     c Cavanagh     b Barlow        9
SN Shawl     bowled           Alderman      0
B Smith      not out                       27
S Khan       bowled           Cooke        36
ME Blumberg  not out                        2
Extras      (b8,lb2,w3,nb3)                16
TOTAL       (8 wickets,45 overs)          170
Dnb:I Chaudary

Fow:1-5(2),2-47(1),3-55(4),4-61(3),5-91(5), 6-91(7),6-91(6),7-161(9).

Bowling-Gorman Jones 6 1 23 1,Cooke 9 0 43 2,Head 9 1 35 2,Stephens 8 1 29 1,Barlow 7 3 7 1,Alderman 6 1 23 1.

Top order fails in the sunshine though youngsters nearly get us home 
   

Nomads were defeated in an entertaining encounter at the glorious venue of Marlow Park CC on Sunday. With the Henley Regatta taking place just a few miles down the road and temperatures approaching 30 degrees this was to be a scorching days cricket watched by a large crowd. Nomads lost the toss and the Marlow Park skipper unsurprisingly elected to bat with the wicket looking firm and outfield lightning fast. Nomads boasted a well balanced side, but were carrying a few "elder statesmen" in the field, which would prove telling in such oppressively warm conditions.

 The mighty Sajjad Shawl took the new cherry and in tandem with the ever reliable Andrew Smith restricted the MPCC openers to slim pickings in the opening salvo. Shawl struck twice in his first 6 overs, one courtesy of a sharp catch from David Steele at 3rd slip (who had been moved there the ball before by skipper Brockton) and the other the prize scalp of Kim Barlow, caught and bowled. MPCC were struggling and Smith was bowling an immaculate line and length.

 After 15 overs Marlow Park were 50-2 and after drinks Ben Smith replaced Shawl. Smith Snr had bowled out, taking 2-28 from 9 impressive overs, but his son was to change the course of the Marlow Park innings by removing the middle pole of the bemused MPCC no4 and then supplying the coup de grasse by trapping the next batsman plumb in front first ball. Ben Smith on a hat-trick, but unfortunately he could not emulate Sajjad Shawl’s heroics at Follies Farm and had to settle with a double wicket maiden. Brockton replaced Andrew Smith but his 5 over spell proved largely unproductive as the young Marlow Park batsman reached a deserved 50 and in tandem with their left handed skipper progressed the score to 110-4 after 30 overs. 

After the much needed 2nd drinks break ex-Notts cricketer Iggy Chowdhury, playing his first game for 2 years took a wicket with his first ball, well taken at deep mid-wicket by the bucket like hands of Ben Smith and Shepherds Bush cricketer Saif Khan was impressing with his leg spin from the other end. Khan took 3 wickets in a impressive spell, two courtesy of sharply turning off-breaks that were given LBW. However Chowdhury was taking some punishment from the MPCC tail and it took the returning Shawl to end their resistance finishing with 4-22 from his 9 overs. MPCC bowled out with 1 over left for 195. David Williams impressed behind the stumps in his UK debut for Nomads.

 The general consensus being that this was an under-par total with such a swift outfield. Charlie Peerless & David Williams opened up for the Nomads but Peerless was soon on his way, unfortunate in the fact that the ball kept very low and crashed into his off pole. Brockton and Williams then forged an enterprising partnership to get Nomads back on track, both looking fluent and finding the boundary on regular occasions. Williams was unfortunate to pick out the cover fielder for 29 and Steele then mis-cued a back foot drive, also taken at cover. Brockton then snicked off to the innocuous left arm dobbler for 32 looking for another boundary through extra-cover and Nomads were in dire straits.

 Andrew Smith and Christopher Wilson batted with good intent, but Wilson’s pace (or lack of)between the wickets caused concern and the run rate began to rise. Smith perished in the attempt at quick runs and Shawl had his stumps re-arranged for a 3rd ball 0 with another grass-cutter in similar fashion to Peerless’ dismissal. Wilson was soon to follow hoisting high to long on and as the final 15 overs commenced Nomads were on the rack at 88-7.

 Enter youngsters Ben Smith and Saif Khan who batted with rare maturity to get Nomads up and over the hundred mark. Classy drives from Khan and wristy flicks from Smith, and with 4 overs left Nomads needed 37. It was clear that the smiles on the faces of the Marlow Park fielders had faded and there was genuine concern these two cricketers could get Nomads over the line for an unlikely victory. Alas, Khan was bowled for a well crafted 36 attempting an audacious swipe to leg and it was left to President Blumberg and Ben Smith to bat out the final 3 overs. Nomads closing some 30 runs short Plenty of ales were consumed with the sociable opposition in the evening sunshine at the pretty Marlow Park CC. We look forward to the 2014 fixture and hope for similar stunning weather.

Previous Matches
2012 Match Cancelled Wet
2011 Nomads won by 5 wickets
2010 Lost by 36 runs
2009 Lost by 26 runs
2008 Cancelled Rain 
2007 Match Drawn