Tuesday 19th February
Cricket Web Blue v Cricket Web Green
PDV Dome
Scorecard
Ball by Ball
A stunningly poor second innings showing by Cricket Web Blue gave way to a brilliant comeback by Cricket Web Green, and the visitors rebounded from a large first innings deficit to win by 4 wickets at the Dome.
Thamba Mamesh was in resurgent form, notching 72 in quick time to get the Blues off to a good start. His was the first of 3 wickets to Tom Halsey, and the middle order did not play when the same sort of fluency after him. Pete Young played a crucial hand of 94, but the CW Green support bowlers were particularly impressive by plugging away and picking up wickets at opportune moments. The final total of 339 appeared considerably less than it should have been, given that CW Blue chose to bat first.
Aside from the usual quickness of the pitch, there was little to bother the batsmen. Such pace proved enough, however, as the Blues shot out CW Green for 169. The ever-consistent medium pace of Adam Collins accounted for 4 wickets, but Gee Sriram crucially tore through the prolific top order. In the end Xavier Rose was pressed into action with 36, the innings top score, and a significant part in reducing the CW Blue lead to 170. There was little evidence of how important that performance would be, though inconsistent bounce began to creep in, even on the second day of the match.
As the Blues lost regular wickets to loose strokes, Mamesh hung in and scored another half-century, keeping the home crowd entertained. At 82-3 it appeared the game would soon escape the reach of CW Green entirely. Cameron chose his moment to strike, snatching the edge of Fuller's bat for a modest 8. The big breakthrough came just before day three lunch, when Mamesh cut a Halsey legbreak into the lap of cover point. Three balls into the next session Halsey added the wicket of Crampton, caught at bat-pad before he had scored. Tyson (22) and debutant Taylor (18 not out) then played handily, but CW Blue could only manage 141 all out, a lead of 311.
The Greens faced a tricky target of 312 and lost Lezama (5) to Demeza in the 3rd over. New batsman Scott announced the gameplan as one of attack, flicking his first ball for 3 runs and later pummeling Sriram for two fours and a six. The Blue bowlers lost the plot quickly and spectacularly, leaking runs at more than 4 per over through a century second wicket stand. Collins finally snared Malone for 59, allowing CW Blue to pull proceedings back until the close of play. The fourth morning brought better luck, as Demeza and Collins shared 3 wickets in the first half-an-hour. Pete Young floored an easy chance at slip, reprieving Dubb-Lynch on 26 and on his way to 63.
The wicketkeeper-batsman was finally out when only 22 runs were needed, leaving Halsey to ****** the unbeaten Bryce Cunningham (52 not out) to the target. While the Greens celebrated their victory to the applause of a small contingent within the crowd, Demeza and his men were booed off the field.
Cricket Web Blue 1st Innings 339 all out
Young P.E. 94, Mamesh 72, Halsey 3-61, Cameron 3-84
Cricket Web Green 1st Innings 169 all out
Rose 36, Dubb-Lynch 23, Collins 4-25, Sriram 3-45
Cricket Web Blue 2nd Innings 141 all out
Mamesh 69, Tyson 22, Corrin 3-14, Halsey 3-34
Cricket Web Green 2nd Innings 313 for 6
Scott 83, Dubb-Lynch 63, Collins 3-86, Demeza 3-108
Cricket Web Green won by 4 wickets.
Man of the Match: TC Halsey (Green)
_________________________________________
Cricket Web Black v Masters XI
Pickford Reserve
Scorecard
Ball by Ball
Aside from a brief burst on the final day, Cricket Web Black were frustrated to another tame draw on a flat Pickford surface, hardly conducive to a result. Zac Gelman took 2 early wickets in the final innings of the match, suggesting an unlikely win, but the Masters XI recovered sufficiently to ease to a draw.
The Blacks were boosted by Alex Blackman's 135 when they compiled 424 in their first innings. The performance was another sum of several contributions, most notably James Stedman (61) and Gerard Armstrong (50) aside from Blackman. While Boyd Rankin went on to take 4 wickets, the Blacks batted deep into the second day to rack up their large total. In response the Masters XI took the same approach, building without dominating and going into the lead by 24 runs. Four batsmen scored half-centuries, including Lara an Martyn, both of whom registered 70s. The Black seamers shared 8 wickets, with the pick of the bowlers falling to Gelman.
CW Black then set about their second innings an hour short of day four tea. Both Dan Smith (13) and Andrew Cloete (14) failed before the score passed 53, allowing Blackman to add to his run tally. He scored 53 the second time around, supporting Stedman to his second fifty of the game. Stedman failed to get his hundred, given out for 84, and Klusener picked up Blackman and Chaulk in quick succession. Armstrong then stuck in for 37 unbeaten, batting CW Black deeper into the final day and allowing Smith the chance to declare.
In the 47 overs remaining, CW Black sought to defend a total of 217 on a very worn pitch. With the new ball they showed the promise that excited the packed crowd. The first wicket fell to Borcich, then Zac Gelman produced a beautiful outswinger to dismiss Geraint Jones for 4. Just 3 overs later he did the same to Lara, finding his outside edge with a searching delivery, and the left-hander walked for 3. From the despair of 24-3 fortunes swung dramatically back in favour of the Masters.
Toward the end of the day they threatened to overhaul the target with some big hitting, but rain intervened to shorten the session and hasten a draw. Just before the end Borcich took two quick wickets, improving his figures in the dead result.
Cricket Web Black 1st Innings 424 all out
Blackman 135, Stedman 61, Rankin 4-105, Klusener 2-67
Masters XI 1st Innings 448 all out
Inzamam-ul-Haq 74, Lara 73, Donald 3-84, Gelman 3-88
Cricket Web Black 2nd Innings 240 for 6 dec.
Stedman 84, Blackman 53, Klusener 2-21, Streak 1-34
Masters XI 2nd Innings 158 for 5
Martyn 73, Inzamam-ul-Haq 57, Borcich 3-44, Gelman 2-40
Match drawn.
Man of the Match: AJ Blackman (Black)
_________________________________________
Cricket Web Colts v Cricket Web Red
Fardin Qayyumi CC
Scorecard
Ball by Ball
Confident as ever, Cricket Web Red picked themselves up from a second innings stutter to sweep to an unprecedented fifth consecutive win. Rob Dauth and Callum Thompson came together at 39-4, with CW Red still needing 143 runs for victory. Their partnership took shape of 145, unbroken and boasting winning quality.
Batting first the Colts wasted good conditions and scored a modest 248. Several starts begot few scores, and Will Kerr was the only batsman to pass 50, unbeaten on 67 in the innings. The Reds worked well together again, with each bowler contributing importantly. They then sensed the occasion and played positively in their response. Aseem Sharma showed the way freely through 94 runs, but David Kearsley was the bigger story. He scored a composed 134, batting 334 balls to do so. He and Jamee Gray (66) added 182 for the fourth wicket to place the home team in firm control.
The Colts trailed by 184 when they started again at the crease. The openers saw the need for application and responded with a stand of 164 at the top. But upon their separation, the Reds quickly scraped back into the match. Dave Watt bowled a persistent line with good energy and was rewarded with 6 wickets for his 25 overs of work. From 236-6 they did well to reach 365, but it left CW Red needing only 182 to round off another memorable win. The determination of the Colts was clear from the start. Kyle Wright bowled a second ball wide, but corrected his line quickly to remove Mork for a duck. Dauth faced a single delivery before stumps.
On day five Sharma seemed determined to race to the target. He played a couple of luscious cover drives and then nicked to Jasotharan going for another. It was the clear high point of Jasotharan's day. Greg Thomas then tolled in stunningly. First he ripped through the defence of Kearsley, bowling him for 4, then reared a ball up at Gray, grabbing his glove in the process. The easy catch was taken by Butler, stirring a celebration of self-belief in the Colts camp. Jasotharan put down Dauth when he had 23 and then again on 32. And to round off his worst day with the gloves, the Colts 'keeper dropped Thompson on 10. The luck was truly with the Reds, who seemed destined to win the game, and the batsmen grew in confidence the further they advanced from their respect let-offs. Thompson in particular batted effectively. He needed 76 balls for 79 runs and dominated the winning partnership and sealed a Man of the Match award.
Cricket Web Colts 1st Innings 248 all out
Kerr 67*, Towns 48, Kennett 3-47, Bennett 2-28
Cricket Web Red 1st Innings 432 all out
Kearsley 134, Sharma 94, Weber 3-69, Thomas 3-120
Cricket Web Colts 2nd Innings 365 all out
Griffen 78, Law 75, Watt 6-104, Thompson 2-54
Cricket Web Red 2nd Innings 184 for 4
Thompson 79*, Dauth 74*, Thomas 2-45, Wright 2-62
Cricket Web Red won by 6 wickets.
Man of the Match: CP Thompson (Red)