Cricket Web XI vs Australia
at CWBCC Stadium
Scorecard
Ball By Ball
After days of wrangling, uncertainty and exposure of chinks, Cricket Web XI stormed back from the dead to take the Chairmen's Trophy in style and once again putting their name forward as one of the premier one-day international teams. The widely criticised Nick Scott debuted with a stodgy 83, while Black batsmen Ash Chaulk and Andrew Cloete slashed runs at will to ensure a hefty and unchasable total.
In a decision which will surely be debated in Australian media tomorrow, captain Ricky Ponting put faith in his bowlers, choosing to put the Webheads in on an Edfield pitch which would only offer more help as the game went along. The Webheads, led by Chaulk, were grateful for the opportunity, settling together, and though there was a worryingly high number of dot balls during the fielding restrictions, Cricket Web eased to 98 for nought after 20 overs.
Then, perversely, began the slog. Australia weren't helped by nine-ball overs from Andrew Symonds, but the part-time spin which had proved so efficient earlier was now dissembled with ease, and the next ten overs yielded 72 as both batsmen brought up their half-centuries. Chaulk was then caught on the boundary after completing his hundred, but little could stop the juggernaut now - 29 boundaries came in the final eighteen overs, with Cloete particularly rampant. He took thirty balls for the half-century, not fazed by the double loss of Butler and Fuller, before another spectacular boundary catch robbed him of a possible century. Camps and Crampton added 17 off the final over, though, and the tally stood at an improbable 367 for five.
Australia started positively, and there was always a chance they would make it, but Ricky Ponting simply seemed off his game. A period of 10 runs off 30 deliveries, while Watson desperately tried to keep them alive at the other end, kept the run rate below five an over, and though the Webheads hadn't been much quicker, there was some relief among the Australian media when Ponting was trapped lbw by Clapham for 25.
Clapham, asked to bowl an eight-over spell, had struggled early on, but the wicket rejuvenated his bowling. He began a more probing line against Watson, and though he dropped a catch off Clarke, he redeemed himself when Clarke smashed a ball to Gough - out for a 26-ball 39, and with Watson having been caught behind an over earlier, Clapham could go off with a respectable three for 52. Australia were four down and required nine an over, but Symonds and Hussey were still in.
At least for another three overs. Then it was Hussey's turn to be outfoxed by Pickup, whose top spinner was launched into the hands of Chaulk - and Australia needed to put their faith in Shaun Marsh. It was badly misplaced - Marsh was caught behind for 20 - and with a brace from Pickup, Australia required twelve an over for 14 overs with Lee and Johnson batting. The goal switched to survival, with not even that possible - Australia were skittled for 224 and Cricket Web XI stole the trophy.
Cricket Web XI 367 for five (50)
Chaulk 102, Cloete 84, Scott 83, Crampton 36*; Bracken 2/67
Australia 224 all out (43.3)
Watson 52; Clapham 4/54, Pickup 3/50
Cricket Web XI won by 143 runs
Man of the Match: A. P. Cloete (Cricket Web XI)