Stone SP C.C. v Lichfield Nomads C.C. - Match Report. 7th June 2026

Nomads beat Stone SP in a close contest

For some of the older Nomads it was a welcome return to the Swynnerton ground, scene of many a close contest in the past. Sunday’s game was to prove to be another game which went right to the wire.

Nomads batted first against what was a development side for Stone SP. After Gardner’s early departure Loxley and Bastable steadied the ship putting on 28 before Bastable was bowled by the pace of Williams. Loxley was playing with a straight bat hitting the ball firmly off the front foot and he and Gibson put on on a valuable 53 partnership. Then it was Clenton who joined Loxley to keep the scoreboard moving before Loxley retired at 50. Cartwright chipped in with a valuable 12 not out at the end of the innings. The youthful attack of Stone SP had bowled economically and taken wickets throughout and the Nomads did well to use all of the 40 overs.

Stone’s innings mirrored the start of the Nomads innings with the fall of an early wicket and then stands between Williams, Gill and Healey to take the score to 80 for 3. Wickets from Gibson and Hoddy and a tight spell from Hughes kept the Nomads in the game. Clenton’s introduction was decisive. He claimed the valuable wicket of Williams and then 5 more of the middle order ( including a sharp catch from keeper Rolfe). Stone rallied with Bailey and Cope. They needed only 7 runs off the last three overs when Cartwright, returning to the attack, trapped Cope lbw to win the game for the Nomads. This was a close fought game which could have gone either way.

MVP.
Clenton 9
Loxley 2

[Disclaimer: Any offence caused by this article is unintentional, any praise is well deserved]

Date: 7 June 2026
Start time: 1:30pm
Venue: Swynnerton Park
Competition: 40 overs friendly
Scores: Lichfield Nomads 141 for 8, Stone SP 135 (38.3 ovs)
Result: Lichfield Nomads beat Stone SP by 6 runs
Toss: Stone SP won the toss and elected to field.
Scorer: Various, opposition
Umpires: Various, Stone SP
Report: P. Gardner
Weather: Cloudy.

22 June 2026

Exciting Finish to a Close Contest

Nomads travelled over to former opponents , now amalgamated with Stone CC, at Swynnerton Park. On a day on which rain was forecast at 6pm, Nomads batted first.against mainly young opposition. Gardner sportingly walked when he feathered his 2 nd ball to the wicket-keeper. Although young the bowlers were quite rapid and Bastable was soon out on 6 to Williams who was coming back from injury. However the in-form Gibson partnered Loxley, who was determined to get a good score, and a partnership of 57 resulted before Gibson was out to an excellent catch by Healey.
Then Singh was out cheaply to a ball which kept a bit low. Clenton came in and soon after Ellis when Loxley retired on 50. Ellis was out for a duck and Rolfe to an excellent ball for 1 and then Ian Hughes for 2. Cartwright came in and used all his experience to steady the boat with Clenton who was batting well. With 8 overs to go , it lookes as if Loxley might be needed again, howver the partnership lasted until the penultimate ball, adding an invaluable 36 runs. Hoddy came in to face one ball with strict instructions to “go for it”, however the last ball passed him well down the legside resulting in 1 bye.

With a slow outfield and a large playing area , the Nomads score of 142 looked competetive.
Singh and Gibson opened the bowling and restricted the run-rate to barely 1 per over, however when Gibson took the wicket of Barker , it brought in Williams who pushed things along nicely. Cartwright took over from Singh and Hoddy from Gibson. Cartwright bowled steadily but for no wicket and Hoddy was more expensive but managed to get the wicket of Gill. Ian Hughes came on for Cartwright and continued to keep things tight but the real success was Clenton replacing Hoddy. Clenton proceeded to claim the important wicket of Williams in his first over and 3 more wickets in his 4 th over. Gibson then dismissed Bailey and Clenton took 2 more wickets ending up with 6 in total. With 4 overs to go, Nomads needed one wicket and Stone needed 25. Gibson came back on and conceded 5 in his over, then Singh conceded 11 and things seemed to be going in the favour of Stone with 9 to win off 2 overs. However Cartwright came on and claimed the wicket of Cope with his 3 rd ball giving Nomads a hard fought victory.

An exciting match played in good spirit is just what we play cricket for with Clenton earning a well-deserved MVP vote.

[Disclaimer: Any offence caused by this article is unintentional, any praise is well deserved]