1-1: Webbers stutter to draw
4th Test - Day 5 - CWBCC Stadium
Australia took the better share of the final day, but their trip to CWLand ended in a 1-1 drawn result. The tourists batted to set a target of 250 from 33 overs, but although CW XI lost 5 wickets, they managed to reach the close with ease and composure intact. Chris Butler ended his series with a solid innings of 40 not out to arrest a potential middle order slide.
The initial push of Australia revolved around the batting of Phil Jaques and Ricky Ponting. The latter was run out 14 short of his century, but Jaques went on to score a fine 152. Andrew Symonds then continued to torture the CW XI bowlers with another quickfire knock. He counted 3 sixes and 7 fours in 73 from 79 balls and helped push the score from 295-2 at his arrival, promoted to number four, to 474-6 at Ponting's declaration. That meant that CW XI faced just over a session and a near impossible total.
It was a tempting target for the Webbers to attack, and Thamba Mamesh launched after it in the final innings of his professional career. His was a stylish attack and featured a six off Lee before tea, then four more boundaries off him after the break. But on 30 he hit his 23rd ball back at Lee to surrender the last laugh. The match got interesting soon after, when first innings heroes Cloete (10) and Mørk (17) perished for not many. The game was still in the balance at 68-3 and Alex Blackman belted three fours and then threw away his wicket for 14 at the start of the final hour. Australia were still a far shout to take the final 6 wickets in less than 15 hours, but when Will Kerr (2) pushed at Johnson outside offstump it was not out of the question.
Ponting realized that his bowlers were a wicket away from the CW XI tail and placed attacking fielders to suit. The fielders continually chirped at the batsmen and tried to amplify whatever pressure they could spark. But Butler was well entrenched and Wilson played responsibly at his side. All the Australian firepower could not topple them.
Australia 1st Innings 459 all out
Symonds 92, Hussey 79, Wilson 3-76, Thomas 3-127
Cricket Web XI 1st Innings 684 for 7 dec.
Cloete 205, Kerr 136*, Clarke 3-74, Lee 2-162
Australia 2nd Innings 474 for 6 dec.
Jaques 152, Ponting 86, Pickup 2-118, Borcich 1-73
Cricket Web XI 2nd Innings 142 for 5
Butler 40*, Mamesh 30, Noffke 2-28, Johnson 1-7
Test Match Drawn.
Man of the Match: AP Cloete (CW XI)