Nine-wicket Nomads' scalp sees Lions roar back in style

After consecutive defeats against East Grinstead and Brighton & Hove, the Lions roared back to winning ways as they picked apart Nomads.

The visitors opted to bat after winning the toss and Michael Munday (6-40) and Tom Haines (3-24) did the damage to restrict them to just 132.

And despite being without Michael Thornely, Joe Ludlow and overseas Jofra Archer, who has continued to profit for Sussex after shining for the county side, Horsham knocked off the total for just the loss of one wicket.

Home skipper James Johnson said: “We never seem to beat them, so I was quite pleased to get one over on them for once. It was a complete turnaround from the past couple of weeks, so all credit to everyone involved.

“It was a really good bowling effort and then we only used three batsmen to knock off the score. Everyone contributed to changing the atmosphere as it has been a bit flat the past couple of weeks, although you are always quite susceptible when you are playing at the Nevill (against Brighton).

“Roffey have a game in hand and are only 18 points ahead, so effectively you would say they are in pole position even though we are top.

“We will take it one game at a time and there is still lots of cricket to play. I think it will be a really tough game against Cuckfield on Saturday, but we will go there trying to play the style of cricket we know we can play.”

James Wilkes-Green top scored with 53 for Nomads as the wickets fell at regular intervals in their innings, they fell to 66-4 and 124-8 when their chief hitter was out.

Only Oliver Gatting (18), Jeremy Green (12) and Carl Simon (14) made double figures with Nomads all out in 46.1 overs.

In reply, Sam Attfield (19) set the foundation before Craig Gallagher (81*) and Haines (33*) saw them home with 135-1 in the 26th over.

Johnson added: “I did not think we would get them all out for 132, the pitch was spinning and Michael did his usual thing and Tom was outstanding with the ball.

“Tom Whiting has been good all season, he did not get a wicket, but he bowls lots of dot balls and does not get frustrated that he is not getting wickets. He is happy to do his job for people at the other end. We then went out there and knocked it off quite comfortably.

“Sam Attfield went out there and played really positively which set the tone for everyone watching - even though he did not get that many - so all credit to him.

“It was nice for Craig to have someone at the other end in Tom doing a similar job, he normally bats with Joe (Ludlow) who can be a little slower.

“It was pleasing to get the job done we said that at half-time. It’s not very often you get the opportunity to beat Nomads or get them all out for 132 runs, so it was important to get it done, which we did.”

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