Saturday 16th February
Masters XI v Cricket Web Colts
Casston Reserve
Scorecard
Ball by Ball
The Colts bowlers improved to actually take wickets against the Masters XI, but the batting again looked out of depth and led to another heavy defeat. The Masters XI won by 6 wickets with 23 balls at their disposal, led by a flashy half-century from Brian Lara.
The Colts chose to bat first and lost their first 6 wickets for 113 runs. They were saved utter disgrace only by a careful innings by Chris Butler, watchful in compiling 75, and a convincing little innings of 39 from Nick Hancock. Tyron Henderson (3-44) led the bowling pack, though Shane Warne championed the middle orders and took 2 for 37.
In their chase the Masters experienced few problems. They built their challenge around 41 from Geraint Jones, recalled to the one-day setup to open the batting, though he was dropped by Wilson when he had 29. The miss came off the bowling of Tarick Weber, who was by far the most effective bowler of the innings, taking 3 for 50. He was no match for Lara, however, who counted a powerful slog-sweep for six against him, among his 51 off 49 balls. The game was summed up as the Masters XI reached their target through a Wilson wide that raced away for four.
Cricket Web Colts innings 206-8 (50 overs)
CR Butler 75 (108), NR Hancock 39 (49), WA Kerr 30 (44)
T Henderson 3-44 (10), SK Warne 2-37 (10)
Masters XI innings 208-4 (46.1 overs)
BC Lara 51 (49), GO Jones 41 (79), WW Hinds 31 (48)
TV Weber 3-50 (10)
Masters XI won by 6 wickets.
Man of the Match: GO Jones (Masters)
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Cricket Web Black v Cricket Web Blue
Pickford Reserve
Scorecard
Ball by Ball
Zac Gelman kept his cool and cracked a length ball from Liam Camps jr. over the top of backward point, bringing up a thrilling victory for Cricket Web Black by 4 wickets. The CW Black top order set up the win, but the Blues fought back strongly and were a wicket away from the tail when the result was finalized.
Earlier Pete Young struck an entertaining 82 from 67 balls to set up a score of 260-9 after the Blues had chosen to bat first. At the top of the order Sean Fuller (34) and Dinu DeSilva (42) recovered well from the early loss of Camps (1), though a flurry of wickets saw the innings collapse to 125-5. Alex Crampton continued his impressive return from injury, hitting 4 boundaries in a very composed innings of 48 in aid of Young. The spin of Neil Pickup (2-38) was difficult to dispatch in the middle overs, making the efforts of Young even more remarkable. He was eventually lbw to Gough, and a meek showing by the tail settled for a score of 260.
The Blacks lost James Stedman early in their innings, bowled around his legs for a quickfire 10. Through Ash Chaulk and Andrew Cloete they then took control of the game. The former scored yet another brilliant hundred - finally bowled for 107 - while Cloete was hardly troubled in reaching 75 from 88 balls. When closing in on victory, wickets tumbled due to sharp bowling and sharper fielding. When Chaulk was out to end the 47th over, 14 runs were needed from the last 18 balls. Captain Smith was out 5 balls later, but by then the target had been reduced to just 4. Blake Donald gave the strike to Gelman in the 49th over and he obliged with a well-struck uppercut and the winning boundary.
Cricket Web Blue innings 260-9 (50 overs)
PE Young 82 (67), AJ Crampton 48 (55), MW DeSilva 42 (58)
KJ Gough 3-48 (10), NS Pickup 2-38 (10)
Cricket Web Black innings 262-6 (48.3 overs)
AP Chaulk 107 (138), AP Cloete 75 (88), AJ Blackman 25 (23)
LA Camps 2-46 (8.3), G Sriram 2-57 (9)
Cricket Web Black won by 4 wickets.
Man of the Match: AP Chaulk (Black)
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Cricket Web Green v Cricket Web Red
CWBCC Stadium
Scorecard
Ball by Ball
Jamee Gray scored a long overdue maiden hundred, breaking down in tears after he achieved the milestone. His innings powered Cricket Web Red to 271-6, a total that they held their nerve to defend by 7 runs.
For Gray it was an innings of two acts. For the first act - 56 off 80 - he was watchful and ensured the Reds got a solid platform at the top of the order. Luff (2) was out early, so he had to rely on Rob Dauth during the second biggest partnership of the innings. Dauth dragged a Corrin long-hop onto his stumps when he had 56, and walked off just as Gray was launching into the second thrilling act of his personal display. He required only 78 balls for his final 85 runs, including 9 fours and an enormous six down the ground. Joining him in the biggest stand of the match, Kenny Dobson was no slouch himself. The classiest batsman in Dev League cricket scored 52 off 50 balls, running smartly between the wickets throughout. In search of quick runs at the end, the Reds lost quick wickets, but 272 looked an imposing target on an even surface.
The recent form of the CW Green top order was again on full display, to the tune of 112 runs. Unsurprisingly Sean Bennett took the first wicket, continuing his revival at the bowling crease. His was another spell of consistency, allowing 43 runs from his 10 overs. Meanwhile the other support bowlers - Nayak, Raghav and Ritchie - combined for figures of 20-0-128-3. The Greens chased hard through three half-centuries from the top three, then an entertaining 36 from 38 balls from Corrin. The required run rate reached 8.6 at one point, but the home team continued to ride their luck and attack the target, staying in the game until the very end.
A brilliant comeback spell from David Kennett and late wickets and meant that CW Green entered the final over needing 13 to win. Dave Watt sprayed the fourth ball of the over wide, reducing the requirement to 9 off the final 3 balls. He fought back dutifully with three barely playable yorkers, limiting Bryce Cunningham only to a single off the third ball.
Cricket Web Red innings 271-6 (50 overs)
JR Gray 141* (158), RJ Dauth 56 (71), GKK Dobson 52 (50)
XPA Rose 3-45 (9), M Corrin 1-29 (3)
Cricket Web Green innings 264-7 (50 overs)
NG Scott 63 (74), BS Read 62 (85), R Malone 56 (71)
DJ Watt 2-53 (10), GN Nayak 1-31 (5)
Cricket Web Red won by 7 runs.
Man of the Match: JR Gray (Red)