Nav’s 75 not out key to victory.

Horsham might be a club full of super stars who have, are or will grace our County Ground at Hove, but at Cricket Field Road yesterday it was the Nomads who gelled together to take out a stunning victory.  It was all about team spirit and being as one.

Preston Nomads sent out a chilling message to the Sussex Premier League with a powerful win at Horsham. Back-to-back wins have put the club into a challenging position and their ‘bumps’ in the road seem a long time ago.  The squad and even players waiting in the wings possess strength in depth and have proved they are capable of a bit of multi-tasking!

Nav won the toss and decided to bat on a warm sunny day.  Opener Nathan Poole is having a good season with a current average of 37 over six matches. He is a perfectionist so would probably want to take that figure higher as the season progresses.  His 31 yesterday can be seen as doing his job and hopefully he would have been quite satisfied.  Unfortunately, the top order suffered something of a mini collapse. Six wickets falling for just 53 runs.  Our own Bertie Foreman doing most of the damage with a 5 for.  More on that later.

However, following a short rain/lightning break Nav and Colly settled in for the rebuild.  Nav did hit several trademark sixes but in the main he was watchful and rotated the strike as Horsham heads started to drop. Will (27 off 22) sweeping with purpose and carrying the ropes on one occasion.  Then our own Jersey star Dan Birrell went about producing a magical 35 balls of chaos as tennis players had to duck. He launched no less than six shots into the courts at the end of the ground.  It was great fun to watch especially from a Nomads persuasion but perhaps not great for the huge posse of home fans that had gathered. A quick-fire half century was the perfect tonic. All the while Nav was nurturing a mature knock that saw him 75 not out off 121 balls.  Huge credit goes to AOB who extended the inns with a seriously mature knock of 12 off 35 balls at 11.  He produced a mesmerising series of top notch forward defences which had Poole purring!.

Nomads batted their full overs for 257 for 9.   A 30 min break ensued.

Nav was inspirational in the huddle saying that we have the talent to win this.  Let’s do things properly he said.   Well true to his word he steamed in first ball. Tom Johnson tickled to leg and there was our young keeper, Joe Musto with the grab.  Que wild celebration in the ranks!

It was the champagne moment.

Joe Willis (49) and Charlie Tear (33) offered resistance and hope for the hosts, but Josh got them both.  Two stunning caught and bowled. The 1^st right was top draw and worthy of mention.  With Horsham heads now on the floor AOB exerted more pressure with three for 33 and a rather bizarre run out to his name!.  Ammad Khan is probably our gun fielder at the club, and he proved it again with a spectacular one-handed pick and launch at the stumps.  The dangerous Oliver Haines run out for 1. Again, que wild celebrations.

Huge credit to Lister and Williams for trying to hang out for a draw.  They did survive 5 or 6 overs of sustained pressure.   However, with 30 balls to go Nav produced an inspired bowling change as the ever-popular kiwi, Jaedyn was asked to go and win it.  1^st ball, eventually, got to the crease. Williams tried to defend but stumps scattered sending the travellers into delirium.

Nav said later ‘that was special, they are a quality side, and it was pretty quiet when we were coming off’ He added ‘someone had to take that deep and I was glad of the company of Will Biz and AOB as we took the score to something competitive’.     As to the 1^st baller he said ‘it was happy days, the perfect start and gave us a lot of momentum!’.  We asked about winning the Sussex League he ventured ‘that’s the plan however we are taking it one match at a time.  But first a couple of beers tonight to celebrate this one!!’

Our Overseas Josh Clarkson said ‘it was great to watch Biz hitting it in the tennis courts which shows he can play with the ‘stick’.  Nav has been the heart and soul of this club for a few years now and he demonstrated he is the worthy Captain with a brilliant knock’  ‘cricket is all about momentum and after our batting we went into the fielding full of energy. That 1^st ball wicket just gave us more energy to continue and in the end we toiled hard on the flat wicket to win it’.   We asked are you enjoying tour time at the Nomads ‘I am absolutely loving it and I have meet people who will be friends for life!’

Bowman said ‘that was a brilliant day at Horsham. I really enjoyed myself.  First, we have to mention our top order. The boys will know where we are with this, and things will need to improve as we hunt down more Sussex Prem wins. Nav, Biz and the tail need a break!’  Young Joe Musto comes in for a bit of praise, his keeping is spot on, tidy and had now taken 11 Sussex League catches. Keep it going Joe.  Huge shout out to the extra’s column, only 7 given away our lowest total this season by far.  It is hard to look away from that spectacular Dan Birrell inns which gave us drive and purpose.  However, it’s our Skipper who gets my Man of the Match award. He went in when we were in a mess and got his head down for a quality and mature 75 not out. Then he produced the champagne moment.!’ ‘We showed great spirit out there and never once let our heads drop. You guys are the real deal!  The club are very proud of you this morning!  

Colin Bowman 18/6/2023