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International Cricket Captain: Forumer's Challenge

Howe_zat

Audio File
2nd Test vs England

The CWers kept the side unchanged, having won the toss and electing to bat.

England's frontline bowlers were made to toil throughout much of the opening session. The wicket was flat and the CW openers look in good touch, piling up an opening partnership of 86 in good time. The man to get the breakthrough was, bizarrely, Trescothick, whose medium pacers got Narang (43) to nick behind for the second time in two matches.

With Heads scoring quickly, CW were able to get up to 115/1 at the lunch break. The left hander raised his half century shortly after from only 78 balls, and was looking in excellent touch, especially when smashing 15 off a Flintoff over. Ballich's fifty (off 75 balls), the 200 run mark (off 51 overs) and Head's hundred (off 140 balls) all came in quick succession as CW dominated the afternoon, the only blip being the needless run out of Ballich for 58. Tea came with the score on 259/2.

Dharan could only make 24 before being out lbw against Jones, but Riley and Heads soon took the score past 300. The runs continued to flow, including from Riley as he got to his half century from 72 deliveries, and they passed the 350 mark.

England just about managed to call on something from their two quickest bowlers late in the day, as Riley was bowled by Jones for 57, before Flintoff managed to get the last ball of the day through Heads to end a dazzling innings, 186 off 251 balls. The score was 386/5.

Winne was able to boost the total past 400 early on the second morning, but Jones fought back with two quick wickets to have the allrounder caught behind, and Capone bowled for a duck. Spark was looking in good nick, but once again threw away a start shortly before lunch as he fell to the part-time spin of Vaughan. Hing's innings was a similar affair, except it was Pietersen's offies to get the left hander out lbw, and CW had lost 4/48. They reached lunch at 479/9, which then became 485 all out as Jones completed his five wicket haul. Given the score at the start of the day, and the ease with which the top five had scored on the flat deck, it was a disappointing return.

The England openers started well, compiling their fifty partnership, but Strauss top edged a Capone short ball through to the keeper. Trescothick and Pietersen got England past three figures in the evening, and Pietersen soon surpassed his partner as he compiled his fifty. Two balls later, on 51, Pietersen was given a life as Ballich dropped a tricky catch off Dean, but failed to make the most of it as he instead nicked Dean through to the keeper for 56.

England had nonetheless reached the relative security of 159/2 when Winne came back on for his second spell, and the right hander took two important wickets to keep the CWers ahead - first Newman, lbw for 16, and then Vaughan as the captain edged to slip for 4. Trescothick remained solid, having made 62* from 148 by stumps, his side on 177/4 at the close of day 2.

Tresco accelerated the following morning, and with able support from Flintoff, the pair were able to add 70 more within the first hour of day three. The opener was on 98 when his first false shot for hours looped towards Narang at extra cover - but not only was the catch spilled, but the ball squirted away for three to allow Trescothick to reach three figures.

Dong and Winne took the new ball, and Trescothick was finally removed when he edged Dong to slip. Flintoff had completed an aggressive half century by the time he did the same just before the break, but the two wickets in the session were enough to keep CW on top. 293 for 6.

Butcher was gone for 10 just after England took their total past 300, bowled by Capone. CW were suddenly eyeing up a big lead if they could dismiss the bowlers quickly. Hing was able to collect three wickets as he dealt with the tailenders, but not before Geraint Jones had shepherded Simon Jones and Harmison well, on his way to an irritating half ton. England were all out for 374, 111 behind.

Neither opener stuck around for long in the second innings, with Narang (11) nicking Flintoff to slip before Heads (16) spooned Anderson up to mid on. Ballich and Dharan guided the CWers to the close without further damage, and they were in a relatively safe position of 86/2, 197 ahead, at the start of day 4.

Dharan got to his 50 first and accelerated from there. Ballich reached his own fifty, but by the time the partnership of 150 for the third wicket was broken, Dharan had moved onto 92 (139) and narrowly missed out on his ton, caught in the deep while attempting to loft Vaughan for six. The lead was 299.

From there it was really just a case of how many CW wanted before their declaration. The fourth wicket stand took the lead well past 400, as Ballich tonned up for the third time in the series, and Riley got to his second fifty of the match off 73 balls. Wickets fell towards the end of the afternoon session in the hunt for quick runs, and CW declared at tea. The score was 360/7, the target 472.

They would have hoped for two or three wickets that evening to put the game beyond doubt, but could only manage the one, Dong bowling Trescothick with the score on 40. England had managed 81/1 by stumps, and so CW would hunt nine wickets on the final day on a pitch still yet to deteriorate.

Strauss was the first to go, caught behind off Capone for 40. Pietersen made his way to fifty, and Newman made fast progress as England set their sights on the win. Dean, again coming to the fore in the second innings, fetched both out. Pietersen departed for 51 and Newman for 40 off 66 as both were caught well by Spark at short leg. With four down at lunch, and 285 still needed, it looked unlikely that England would hold on for the draw, let alone go for the win.

It looked far more likely at tea, as Vaughan and Flintoff frustrated the CW bowlers. The new ball was taken, but neither Dong nor Winne could force their way through. Capone got the one wicket of the session, with Dharan taking a fine diving catch to end Vaughan's 48 off 128 balls. The final session began with England five down, Flintoff on an unbeaten 51, and 181 runs to win.

The remaining batsmen decided the win simply wasn't on, despite the continued flatness of the pitch. Flintoff was the final wicket to fall as he was bowled by Dean for 75 off 160. Butcher reached his half century from 137 balls, and Geraint Jones contributed a 42-ball block in the final hour.

Test match Drawn.

MotM - John Heads
 

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Howe_zat

Audio File
3rd Test vs England

Once again, CW won the toss and batted, in the final match of the series.

Narang started scratchily, and could only make 9 from 36 balls before getting out lbw to Harmison. Heads and Ballich made sedate but solid progress, making it to lunch at 79/1, with Heads having brought up another half century.

Heads came out after lunch with a positive intent, quickly racing from 50 to 66, before Jones got him to feather one through to the keeper. Ballich departed soon after for 26, ending his run of fifties when he drove Harmison straight to midwicket. CW were 107/3.

Spark could only make 10 before lazily mistiming a drive to the same fielder, and though Dharan looked to push on in face on the wickets, he too fell after making a start after edging Anderson behind on 28. Simon Jones was brough back on before tea, and when Winne edged him behind for 9, a miserable session for the CWers was complete. 181/6.

Riley managed to keep CW in the game. His partnership of 42 with Hing after tea ended when Anderson got one to come back in and trapped Hing lbw, and no though real runs came from the tailenders, Riley was able to progress towards 50 with them.

Capone (2) fell to Flintoff, and once again a CWer fell to part-time medium pace as Dean (12) was out to Bell. When Dong was cleaned up by Harmison, Riley was stranded on 48* and CW were all out for a sorely disappointing 246.

CW's bowling would have to make it up for them, and Winne got them off to an excellent start. Given a few tricky overs to face on the first evening, Strauss hit Winne's second ball for for but was completely beaten by his fifth, which bowled him. At the close they were 13/1.

Dong and Winne made further inroads in the morning as they found the edges of Trescothick and Newman respectively, reducing England to 32/3 early doors. The fourth wicket stand of 72 between KP and Vaughan gave the England innings sme substance, but one Capone made the breakthrough (Vaughan driving him to first slip for 37), the collapse was on.

Flintoff could only make 1 before a mess of a sweep shot looped up to Riley, and Pietersen, having held the innings together with his half century, hit Capone straight to square leg on the stoke of lunch. England went to lunch on 131/6.

Hing came on after lunch and immediately Geraint Jones twice hit him for four. The left arm spinner was not to be put off, and in his next over Bell was gone, out to a drifting, turning delivery that hit his off stump. Jones, having hit Hing for four again with the first ball of his third over, attempted to charge him again but this time was beaten, and Dharan completed the stumping. 155/8.

Harminson, and especially Simon Jones, decided to chance his arm, and had slogged his way to 16 at the start of the 52nd over. Hing started it with a pair of poor short balls that were dispatched to the fence by Jones, but the third was quicker, fuller and took the outside edge. With the no.11 Anderson in, a huge shout for caught behind went up, but Hing had overstepped. The fifth ball over the over saw an lbw appeal turned down, Anderson was riding his luck.

The tailend thrash had just about rescued the innings as England sneaked past 200, but Hing ended proceedings as he got one to bowl Harmison, and finished with 4-41. England were all out for 205, which translated into a lead of 41 for the CWers. They would have a period of 20 minutes or so to negotiate before tea.

It was a task they utterly failed at. The opening partnership began slowly, and Narang continued his bad run when he edged Jones behind for just 8. Ballich completed a poor match as well when he nicked Anderson to first slip, and soon Jones struck again to remove Heads, the opener attempting an airy waft to a straight ball and losing his leg stump. They went to tea on 22/3.

22 wickets had fallen in four sessions, yet there was nothing wrong with the wicket. Dharan and Spark demonstrated that ably in the evening, as no further breakthroughs were made. The pair were able to get the score past three figures, and remain unbeaten at the close as CW were finally able to build a lead. They let by 143 at the start of day 3.

The partnership didn't last any further. Spark (36) fell in the first over of the day as he played onto his stumps against Anderson. Dharan raised a vital half century, but Riley was gone as soon as he reached double figures, nicking off for 10. From 119/5 CW were in serious trouble, and it was a crucial partnership between Winne and Dharan that saw them recover. Lunch came with the CWers on 188/5, and leading by 229.

Dharan had faced 214 deliveries before he got to his century with a clip through midwicket for four. CW were starting to build a healthy lead now, and the pair were able to negotiate through the new ball as Winne reached fifty. The allrounder couldn't quite make it to the tea break, falling lbw to Harmison for 62 off 162 balls, but the stand had put CW back into control. The lead had exceeded 300, with Dharan on 129*.

Hing departed for just 12, and Capone was gone first ball to a great nut from Harmison. Dharan found a partner in Dean that was willing to stick with him if not push the score along, and the wicket-keeping continued to play a gem of a knock. The partnership by the close of day three was at an unbeaten 42 (7 of which were Dean's), and the lead up to an imposing 387.

If England were ever going to chase it, they could afford nothing more, and that's what they gave away on the fourth morning. Anderson picked up his fourth wicket when Dean edged a short ball to fine leg, and his fifth when Dong couldn't survive his first delivery. CW were 346 all out, without adding to their overnight score, and Dharan stranded on 179*.

England's openers started well in their chase of 388 as they compiled their fifty stand to see off the new ball. Dean was the one to make the breakthrough as Strauss left a ball from the offie that came straight on with the arm, taking the left-hander's off stump. Dean then managed to find Pietersen's outside edge on the stroke of lunch - only for Dharan to spill the regulation chance. 78/1.

KP failed to make the most of the lifeline, and soon after the break he completely missed a sweep against Hing, who hit the stumps. Trescothick kept England in it, as he reached his half century and the score reached the 100 mark for two wickets lost. It must have seemed like he had to do it on his own when Newman departed, once again bowled, this time to Capone.

Capone struck again late in the session to bowl Vaughan for 19, and CW were well on top now, the score 157/4. Flintoff responded to this as badly as possible. Having made 3, he inexplicably hit Winne straight up in the air and was caught by Capone at mid on. 160/5. Rain brought an early end to the session with Trescothick fighting the lone fight, on 98*, but his team were still 200 runs adrift of the target.

Trescothick raised his century, and England slowly pulled themselves back into as the partnership reached 50. Hing got the breakthrough as Trescothick's concentration finally broke. Chasing a wide legside delivery, he could only edge it through to the keeper. He was gone for 115, with the next highest score being Strauss' 28.

Hing followed that up with the dismissal of Geriant Jones (8) to first slip, and his namesake Simon was gone the same way for a duck. At 228 it was only a matter of time before the tail was cleaned up, and Dean obliged, Ballich taking his third slip catch in a row to get rid of Harmison. Bell was the last man out, an inside egde onto the stumps removing him for 13, and CW had won comfortably.

CW won by 155 runs and won the series 2-0

MotM - Bharani Dharan
 

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