Stragglers of Asia CC v Nomads CC – 14 July 2019 at Ascott Park

Result: Won by 7 wickets

Match Report:

On an overcast morning at Ascott Park following a very difficult selection, a Stragglers side compiled of mainly guests won the toss and took to the field with only 10, Nomads themselves also managed to only muster 9 at this point due to some other game of cricket going on that day in the shape of a world cup final.

Billy & Harry Gravett (guests) opened the bowling and bowled well with the latter making best use of the conditions snaring 2 wickets in the 14th over leaving Nomads struggling at 42-2. The arrival of James Melhorn out of the blue to make a full 11 added to the pressure in the field and Nomads nudged and blocked their way to 225-5 from 60 overs, including a rear guard 57* from their skipper T Brokton and a well compiled but dull 74 from their opener P Wakefield who fell in the 52 over.

The reasons for the slow pace of the innings became clear at the interval where we were informed that one of their players had failed to turn up so they would now only field with 8 with no wicketkeeper available to them. In a slightly odd turn of events special thanks must be given to David Chin (g) who volunteered to keep for both sides for a total of 99.3 overs in the end.

Matt Suckling & Nick Farrer (g) opened the batting and following the early loss of Farrer for 5, Suckling and Ben Gunn came together with a 93 run partnership, Gunn hit a well made 51 before being caught and Suckling continued on to accelerate past a very pleasing hundred before being bowled. The remaining runs were knocked off with ease seemingly perfectly timed to watch the climax of the world cup final and the Super over that followed.

A slightly more comfortable win for Stragglers than for England but well done to both!

Team Batting First: Nomads

Team Batting Second: Stragglers of Asia