Western Australia Under-19s vs Cricket Web Under-19s
at WACA Ground
Scorecard
Ball By Ball
Zac Ritchie could only stand and watch in horror as his side collapsed to the leg spin of Sanders in the first innings; by the second Arnold had learned and came up with a remarkable comeback, smashing an unbeaten 133 for man-of-the-match honours as the tourists still won by eight wickets. The bowlers were largely sharp throughout, though occasional stick was handed out by Anthony Murphy and allrounder Nathan Coulter-Nile.
After choosing to bat, a fruitful partnership developed between James Newham and Anthony Murphy, while David Pares enjoyed the new ball experience by yorking Luke Towers for five. However, after Newham had been held by Luff after attempting the third six, McNamara and Pares began to work their way through the middle order.
Murphy was denied of the half-century, and though captain Michael Johnson hit 35, McNamara feasted on the tail as the hosts were all out for 193. owever, as countless tourists have found out, the first outing at the WACA can be treacherous. Coulter-Nile menaced the top order with short balls, with only Arnold managing to last, while the middle and lower order wilted feebly to the leg spin of Kieran Sanders. Ritchie attacked in frustration, but could only get support from George Roberts, who held out 25 deliveries before he, too, edged Sanders. Four catches and an lbw were included in the erratic five for 38; Ritchie was left unbeaten on 89, making almost half the total batting at four.
Josh Forner was given the new ball in the second innings and immediately yorked Towers, but after the other opener Newham was held in the gully by Pares, Forner was too buoyed by success and strayed wide, but Donald provided good pace and bounce from second change, and by the end of his successful spell the hosts were 108 for five.
Yet the sack wasn't quite closed, and Coulter-Nile, with the aid of Monteleone, attempted to wrest free. Their partnership of 66 was the most entertaining of the game, and the Webheads could not figure it out despite chopping and changing the bowling; eventually McNamara, who had been milked by Newham, came back and provided the length ball which suckered Monteleone's outside edge. Branston and Walshaw added 51 for the ninth wicket, though, before Pares closed things off with a brace of wickets caught behind.
The fourth-innings chase, however, was comparatively easy. Western Australia were buoyed by the relatively large total and the ease with which they had dismissed the Webheads the first time around; instead they met an admirably concentrated effort from the tourists, who played punishing cricket against any inaccurate ball. Arnold continued to rejoice in the form that has given him a regular opening spot for Black in first class cricket, and scored a hundred in the evening session, after he and Luff had made it through to tea without loss; Coulter-Nile was once again the most utilised bowler, but even his sheer pace was no threat to Arnold and Read, who added a massive 160 for the second wicket after Luff had smashed Coulter-Nile to Stockden at mid on. The total was chased in just under fifty overs, with just Read having succumbed, as Arnold brought up the winning runs with his seventh six of the second innings.
Western Australia Under-19s 193 all out (55 overs)
A Murphy 49, J Newham 42; EAP McNamara 4-37, DPW Pares 3-37
Cricket Web Under-19s 182 all out (41 overs)
ZJ Ritchie 89*; K Sanders 5-38, NM Coulter-Nile 3-37
Western Australia Under-19s 228 all out (49 overs)
T Monteleone 50; DPW Pares 4-43, BC Donald 3-46
Cricket Web Under-19s 241 for two (49.5 overs)
AR Arnold 133*, BS Read 60
Cricket Web Under-19s won by eight wickets
Man of the Match: A. R. Arnold (Cricket Web Under-19s)