Gough and Dauth show the way for rusty CW XI
Cricket Web XI vs England Lions - OD - New Road
Scorecard
Ball by Ball
Thoughts turned to a limited overs perspective and it was back to business for the Cricket Web XI, still glowing from their 2-0 Test series win. They faced the England Lions, and armed with a new-look team, they showed many signs of rust, but recovered well to boost their efforts of preparation. Enterprising batting made up from some average bowling and fielding in a comfortable win.
Andrew Strauss, captain of the Lions, and Ravi Bopara each scored 57 to boost their claims to selection for the upcoming one-day series. Both ventured between the utterly sublime and the frustratingly average, but both were crucial contributors for their team. Strauss set the pace at the top of the innings and was largely responsible for the Lions reaching 99-1 after 21 overs. He lost his opening partner, Phil Mustard, to a lively opening spell by Kev Gough. The fast bowler has been playing county cricket in England, and it looked to pay off through his four-wicket haul in the match.
Luke Wright, Ian Trott and Rikki Clarke - all discarded members of the England setup - chipped in with handy starts, but none could carry on to the required big milestone. And although young Kingsley Clapham and the experienced Liam Camps jr. looked wildly out of sorts, the middle order failed to take advantage and build toward a huge total. It was left to Bopara and Adil Rashid in the end, holding the innings together after Clarke was out at 181-5. Rashid was particularly impressive, though he scored half the runs of his senior, finishing with a huge six among his 28 not out. Neil Pickup's (2-38) spell in the middle overs was greatly influential, and Gough delivered the ball with typical pinpoint accuracy, cleaning up the lower order at the tail-end of the innings.
England Lions closed their innings on 233-8. The pitch remained easy-paced and the outfield quick, allowing Cricket Web XI to race off the mark, even after Ash Chaulk was run out for 1. James Stedman and Andrew Cloete took to the bowling of Tremlett and Onions and posted up 77 runs in just under ten overs for the second wicket. When Tim Bresnan induced a top edge from Cloete's bat, it was with great relief that the Lions welcomed Chris Butler to the crease. Bresnan followed up with the wicket of Stedman, the opener out carelessly for 47, and though the required rate was down to 4, there seemed a game on.
Butler and Dauth manipulated the medium pacers skillfully, but struggled more against the offerings of the Lions spinners. Butler miscued a cut shot off Swann and was caught at backward point for 31 and Alex Campton joined Dauth in the middle. The Cricket Web wicketkeeper, far short of match practice, looked consistently indecisive, dropped on 12 by Tremlett. But for all the unease of his partner, Dauth played himself into beautiful nick. He reached fifty with his fourth boundary, a fine paddle sweep off Rashid. Crampton skewed a square drive into the lap of Bopara, opening some final gasp opportunity for the Lions, with CW XI needing 43 to win from the final 82 balls.
Careful, but easy batting followed between Dauth and Camps, until the latter launched a Bresnan no-ball into the stands over long-on with a hernia-tempting hoik. Seven balls later Camps drove Tremlett straight down the ground for four more, securing a 5-wicket win.
England Lions 233-8 (50 overs)
AJ Strauss 57 (72), RS Bopara 57 (80), AU Rashid 28* (23)
KJ Gough 4-31 (10)
Cricket Web XI 235-5 (43.6 overs)
RJ Dauth 70* (92), JE Stedman 47 (41), CR Butler 31 (50)
TT Bresnan 2-32 (6)
Cricket Web XI won by 5 wickets.
Man of the Match: RJ Dauth