Nomads CC | Sussex Martlets

Match Report

On arrival , both MMs believed they had 11. However a late Covid positive for Nomads and the delay of Degsy at Glasgow airport meant both started with 10, supplying fielders as necessary for the requisite 11 to be maintained.

Losing the toss, the Martlets had first use of the ball and opened up with the two Daniels, Baptiste and James. Quickly , Nomads were 2 down, both to James and soon after the third followed , caught at extra cover after edging a Baptiste delivery on to his helmet, also leading to concussion.
After that wickets fell around every thirty or forty runs including a wicket on debut for Toby Witham and three wickets on debut for Radha Krishna including a sensational left handed grab over his shoulder by Witham at deep mid on, having literally just swapped with the (un)equally mobile Newman. Also thrown in the wickets was a welcome run out by the traitorous sub fielder.
The declaration came at 4.50 leaving the Martlets an hour plus 20 overs to get 215, the Nomads innings finishing with the departure of Jariwala for a fine 129.
The arrival of tea coincided with the arrival of Degsy fresh from the Bollywood set of a film on the Iran-Israeli conflict, apparently parts of Glasgow resemble the Middle East!
The Martlets reply began at pace as Louw and Nelson rattled up the score to 56 off the first eight overs. The introduction of regular adversary , Ben Butcher who picked up Louw and Trees in the first over , changed the game. Quickly followed by an optimistic reverse sweep attempt by Nelson , leading to his stumping off the experienced Joe Ireland. Cadle and Baptiste soon followed at which point, thoughts of victory were removed as the skies darkened.
Wickets continued to fall as the Martlets stumbled to 113-9 and with 10 overs remaining in the drizzle only one result seemed likely. However that was reckoning without the combined age (114) of Newman and Horsham. Without much running involved, the pair dug in and with the odd pressure release shot / nervy moment, added 26 to see out the draw.

A game that finally produced a close finish , after a couple of very one sided affairs , that was played in excellent spirit, given that Degsy was allowed to bat and each side lent fielders.
Thanks also to both umpires , Jim Lock and Nick Stevenson and to EGCC for hosting