Sunday 17th February
Cricket Web Blue v Masters XI
PDV Dome
Scorecard
Ball by Ball
Cricket Web Blue failed to press on from powerful positions on several occasions, ultimately failing to defend 344 in the fourth innings of their match against the Masters XI. The Blues were well-placed at 163-1 on the opening day before slumping to 272 all out. It was the first sign of a performance that thoroughly flattened to deceive.
Tyron Henderson spearheaded the Masters bowling in the first innings, claiming 5-46 to power through the CW Blue middle order. The visitors then faced an over before stumps, resuming on day two on 3-0. In the first session the Blues took 5 wickets to move top of the pile, then surrendered control in the afternoon after Klusener was out at 146-6. Dale Benkenstein played a near flawless innings of 106, adding 125 with Heath Streak (40), and ensuring the Masters stayed in the game. When Sean Fuller claimed his 4th wicket, the innings came to a close and the Masters XI led by 1 run.
The little that separated the teams was amplified by a careful struggle between the teams in the CW Blue second innings. Stephen Young played well for 76, but Robert Cribb was the most outstanding batsman in the innings. He complemented his first innings 55 with an unbeaten 99, and might have had his hundred, but he failed to score off the last 9 balls of his innings. In that time he was also dropped by Lara at slip. Such drama intensified as Ed Smith (6) was out early in the fourth innings chase.
Adam Collins too his second wicket, bowling Jones for 26, leaving the Masters XI in trouble at 56-2. The experienced bowler was again in the action, dropping Martyn off Fuller when he had just 4. In typical Aussie fashion, Martyn made sure the embarrassment ran deep, hardly sparing Collins' blushes during an otherwise flawless innings of 123. He lost Brian Lara for 40 quickly after tea but found an even better partner in Inzamam-ul-Haq. The fourth wicket stand blossomed to the tune of 117 runs, ironically broken by Collins, when Inzamam was caught in the gully for 58. A brisk 56 runs later Demeza roared in successful appeal, sending Benkenstein back to the pavilion for 26.
The Masters XI still needed 78 runs and Klusener joined Martyn in the last recognized batting partnership on the innings. Martyn was then on 92 and soon flicked Demeza off his pads for a boundary to bring up his hundred. The Blues finally got him, trapped lbw by Demeza with only 29 runs remaining. What little hope there was for CW Blue then could not inspire action. Not until Gooljar had Streak caught bat-pad for 14 did the home team even suggest penetration, and Klusener paddled the legspinner behind square for the winning 2 runs.
Cricket Web Blue 1st Innings 272 all out
Young P.E. 62, Cribb 55, Henderson 5-46, Streak 2-63
Masters XI 1st Innings 273 all out
Benkenstein 106, Streak 40, Fuller 4-51, Demeza 3-73
Cricket Web Blue 2nd Innings 344 all out
Cribb 99*, Young S. 76, Rankin 4-79, Warne 3-80
Masters XI 2nd Innings 344 for 7
Martyn 123, Inzamam-ul-Haq 58, Collins 3-84, Gooljar 2-45
Masters XI won by 3 wickets.
Man of the Match: DR Martyn (Masters)
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Cricket Web Green v Cricket Web Black
CWBCC Stadium
Scorecard
Ball by Ball
Though Cricket Web Green fought desperately in their second innings, they could not recover from a dismal showing on the opening day, slumping to defeat by 7 wickets.
The Greens chose to take first strike after Andrew Garven called correctly at the toss, batting on a good even surface and in perfect weather. Though Lezama was caught hooking at Gelman for 5, there were few worries against the new ball. From a solid platform of 62-1, the Greens looked poised to push toward a good score, until a middle order slide derailed the innings swiftly. Rob Malone only scored 32, but finished the top scorer in a total of 169, as CW Green were booed by their home crowd as they failed to bat 55 overs. Neil Pickup led his team off the field, the star player with 5 for 39.
CW Black have rarely struggled to get into winning positions this season, and once again they made good use of their first innings by compiling a lead of 333. Dan Smith (58) and James Stedman (40) led the way with a partnership of 102, giving way to a breezy 75 from Cloete and two middle order hundreds. Gerard Armstrong recaptured his early season form during a 212-ball innings. He was dropped on 80, but otherwise sizzled and advanced to 123. When he departed he left Chaulk unbeaten on 90, joined by Blake Donald. Chaulk hit Cunningham over point for six and then pulled him past midwicket for three runs, acknowledging the crowd upon reaching 100.
CW Black batted into day three and past 500. With only 7 wickets down Smith declared the innings closed. Two and a half days remained for the Blacks to push home to a rare win, keeping in mind their record of a single win in their last 7 first-class games. Yet again their bowlers failed to fire the second time around, starting well and fading away. Nick Scott (99) lost his legstump when he had a century on his mind, then the always dangerous Martyn Corrin was caught at third slip before he had scored. Both of Lezama and Cunningham raised hundreds, contrasting in pace and style, allowing their team to climb to the heights of 463. Crucially Tom Halsey stuck in at the crease for 48 runs, but he was one of four victims of Borcich in the innings.
Two hours short of day five lunch, CW Black began the final innings of the match. They needed 131 runs and pleasant weather determined that time would not be an issue. Garven dropped his opposite number, but perhaps not the match, when Smith had just 8. And by the time Stedman was caught for 3, the innings had progressed to 37-1. Smith was out for a flashy 39 and left Cloete (48 not out) and Blackman (26) to firm up the chase.
Cricket Web Green 1st Innings 169 all out
Malone 32, Cunningham 25, Pickup 5-39, Richards 3-29
Cricket Web Black 1st Innings 502 for 7 dec.
Armstrong 123, Chaulk 122*, Cameron 2-73, Rose 2-100
Cricket Web Green 2nd Innings 463 all out
Lezama 116, Cunningham 100, Borcich 4-93, Pickup 3-83
Cricket Web Black 2nd Innings 131 for 3
Cloete 48*, Smith 39, Cameron 1-19, Halsey 1-21
Cricket Web Black won by 7 wickets.
Man of the Match: NS Pickup (Black)
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Cricket Web Red v Cricket Web Colts
CW Oval
Scorecard
Ball by Ball
Amazingly, Cricket Web Red pulled together with bat and ball, rebounding from a first innings of 139 to win their third consecutive Dev League match. For the first half of the match the Colts looked to have battled into the box seat, but they were met with great heart and fight and fell short of victory by 30 runs in the end.
After Kyle Wright won the toss his bowlers responded in friendly conditions to squeeze the Reds and shoot them out for 139. Only four bowlers were required and the 10 wickets were shared evenly between Wright and Wilson in a truly remarkable performance. But in the same manner that as their hosts, the Reds delighted in the conditions and took 6 for 90 to start the second innings. The balance of the game was shifted by Will Kerr, who scored 71 and contributed heavily to partnerships of 60 and 54 for the seventh and eighth wickets respectively. The Colts managed to secure a lead of 81, which looked to be crucial in the context of the match.
On the second day the conditions were drastically improved and enabled the most batsman-friendly period of the match. Sharma trusted the trueness of the surface and raced to 22 before padding up to Wright. He gave way to Rob Dauth (53) and another easy partnership, then sneaked an outside edge for a second breakthrough. Jamee Gray, having topscored with 36 in the first innings, joined his captain in the partnership of the match. The two put on 216 and turned the match around. Mork tolled in with 135 but Gray fell 2 short of a maiden first-class ton. After they broke through with the third wicket the Colts found the strength and resolve to battle back and limit the damage. For the second time in the match, unprecedented in Dev League history, all 10 wickets fell to Wright and Wilson, and CW Red were all out for 414.
The target of 324 left the Colts with a good opportunity of victory, and one that they relished with a blitz to 60 within 13 overs. Just before lunch Watt snared Griffen for 26 and triggered a slump to 86-3. Backs were firmly against the wall and Chris Butler set out to stamp his credentials alongside Shan Jasotharan. Both men were under the spotlight ahead of the series against New Zealand, so it was a thrilled Tharmi Loganathan who stood up to applaud a fiery half-century by Jasotharan. Dropped on 3 he scored 95 off 78 balls and then dragged a slower ball from Thompson onto middle stump.
Butler was more assured and played himself into a Test match frame of mind, trying to atone for his first innings failure. The partnership gathered momentum and prestige of 155 runs at Jasotharan's demise. Kingsley Clapham rocked the middle order with two quick wickets, and suddenly the game was back in the balance. Hancock made some progress with Butler, but after advancing comfortably to 18, he missed a quick Kennett delivery to be bowled. The Reds faced up to the Colts lower order that has proved stubborn often this season. But they would not let the opportunity slip. Largely through the heroics of Watt, they left Butler stranded on 84 and his team a defeated force.
Cricket Web Red 1st Innings 139 all out
Gray 36, Sharma 30, Wilson 5-24, Wright 5-43
Cricket Web Colts 1st Innings 230 all out
Kerr 71, Griffen 42, Kennett 5-58, Clapham 3-55
Cricket Web Red 2nd Innings 414 all out
Mørk 135, Gray 98, Wilson 5-77, Wright 5-97
Cricket Web Colts 2nd Innings 293 all out
Jasotharan 95, Butler 84*, Watt 3-66, Clapham 3-70
Cricket Web Red won by 30 runs.
Man of the Match: H Mork (Red)