There is an oft-used expression, “it was like men against boys”, which describes a sports match where one team is much stronger, more experienced, or more physical than the losing side. 

As the Mighty Greys arrived at Preston Nomads palatial ground, a number of the ageing greysmen eyed the youthful and clearly talented Nomads with a degree of trepidation. As many an ageing cricketer will testify – there’s nothing quite as distressing as seeing an opposition brimming with youth, enthusiasm and the ability to run fast, jump, dive and slide in the field – traits largely missing in a team like the Greys who probably have an average age of around 55 years (Robbie – where are the stats on this?!) – with many limited in mobility and the ability to throw a ball in overarm. On the other hand, amongst the Nomads youthful ranks were 11 and 12 year old brothers playing their first game of adult cricket.

On with the game – TMGs batted first, posting 203 for 6 off our allotted 35 overs. Notable mentions for:

• Tommy Snicks scoring an impressive 106 not out at a rate of 139.5 including a lovely straight six hitting the sightscreen.
• 3 bowled wickets by the 11 year old M Thorne – who was a “thorn in the side” (sorry) of Messrs Biff, Lenton and Elsie
• Some lovely shots from benny including a lovely cover drive to the long boundary.
• Clunky pulling a hamstring. Alex coming in as his “runner”… and Clunk still running to the non-strikers end faster than Alex
• Alex running Clunk out after being too busy chatting away to the opposition fielding at square leg and forgetting to run. PSM
• Some terrible chat from Nomads young wicket keeper including “do you drink milk?”. Need to work on the small talk, young man.

Tea – Nomads served up some lovely barbeque burgers and hot dogs for tea.

Back to the game – Nomads came out with the clear intention of rapidly knocking off the 204 runs needed to win and perhaps underestimating the skill and guile of the “old men” of the Greys. This strategy backfired but they still managed to post a respectable 188 for 7 off their 35 overs.  Notable mentions for:

• Nomads opener F Brookfield with 72 runs and 12 year old C Thorne scoring 59
• Some top top fielding in the covers by Tom Nicholls
• Nomads non-striker backing up by sprinting in with the bowler
• Rick Lenton taking a great catch behind the stumps off Louis and running out his 11 year old nemesis at the non-strikers end… although he may or may not have actually been aiming for the stumps nearest to him…
• Benny’s ball of the century, bowling a vicious leggie smashing the stumps around the Nomad batman’s legs
• Robbie’s manly pheromones setting off the pack of hounds in the next door kennels
• Clunk outrunning Chiefy despite doing so with a hamstring injury AKA tortoise vs tortoise.

The Mighty Greys won fairly comfortably in the end by 15 runs… proving perhaps that a team of wiley old duffers can still compete with a team of spritely young cricketers. DFWTMGs!

Statto’s report

Win number 14, 8 in a row…DFWTMG

In the tables it’s all change at the top as Tommy Nicks first ton for the season (106*) sees him go top with a half decent average of 97.2. In the bowling Louis’ triple takes him past DD.

In the lifetimes Tommy Nix goes past 1,000 runs in 16 innings averaging 102.2, so really, he could do with pulling his socks up this season…