Every now and then you can run up against a team who just play a better game and afterwards you just need to acknowledge it and move on.  That was a case at Lindfield Common, Mid Sussex yesterday for our Twos in Division 3. However, as we shall discover later in this piece James and the crew still have more than a fighting chance to make that important play off spot. 

Due to unforeseen circumstances skipper James M wasn’t available for the early scrimmages so the armband went to Gatts for the afternoon.  Luckily for the team Jimmy was able to attend later in the day. On a great day for batting Oliver won the toss and decided to bat.  He and Adam I strode out in confident style as a very pleasing hour slipped passed.  Both players looked in superb nick to produce, on another day, what looked to be a match defining start.  Fresh from a quality knock for the threes Adam caressed three boundaries in a classy inns of 39 before going LBW.  The score on a promising 88 for 1.   The interim skipper, with mum and dad watching on, would have been very pleased to go on to complete a skilful half century.  As the hosts turned to spin their hugely successful overseas Imesh Udayanga might have had a day out if he had got the big hitting Felix Venter out early. However, Venter got his feet moving just in time before Imesh could inflict any more damage. He and Jimmy went through the gears to produce a very exciting phase of run making. Felix hitting a straight six on the way to 53 and James (19) smashing an on drive which ended up about 50 yards past the boundary rope.  Ravi put the icing on a good batting performance with a huge hit to cow with the last delivery.  Nomads settled on a competitive 222 for 9 off 45 overs. Ross Pedley the bowling pic 4 for 39.

Huge thanks to Lindfield for providing a welcome tea.

During the huddle Gatts asked his team to not allow any twos and to field aggressively. In that respect the team had read the memo. However, openers Andrew Stillwell (50) and Harry Moorat (46) produced a fine partnership which neatly set up a winning tilt. It was 100 with out loss. The Lindfield boys seemed to pace their inns well and never really looked in any trouble.  Their 1^st mistake came about by a strange run out as Moorat was left high and dry.  Adam I had a good match for the Nomads taking out the other opener, stumped by Musto. He was then involved in the Nomads champagne moment as Imesh skied a ball out to the deep. In what seemed like an eternity Jacques Wilson had time to settle himself, and perhaps perform a couple of press ups, before clinging on. It was a great catch!!!

That was as good as it got for the visitors especially with Thad Tucker scoring three 6s and the skipper James Aggio-Brewe (35 n.o) seeing Lindfield to a comfortable win and 30 points.  Nomads secured 13 for their efforts.

You can see Ollie and Jacques full interview on the club whatsapp channel. Gatts said ‘ we batted really well but didn’t quite get it right with the ball and in the field, things didn’t go our way!’  Jacques said ‘I though that’s coming my way and luckily it stuck!’

Lindfield skipper said to me ‘we are very pleased to win this today your guys gave us a pasting at Fulking, I think we batted really well and as skipper I was pleased to see us over the line’

Bowman said ‘huge thanks to Lindfield for hosting and providing a lovely tea, good luck in the remaining two games. If you take a peek at division 3 this morning, it’s a very congested picture for that coveted play off spot (2^nd in the table). Our twos are very much in the mix but for now there is just one thing to concentrate on and that’s beating Bexhill at the SCMG on Saturday.  For his overall contribution to the team young Adam Ibrahim gets my Nomads MOM award, well played to him’