Monday 28th February
CW Blue v CW Red
at the CW Oval
Experience was the key for Blue as they achieved victory over the Reds at the CW Oval. After Andrew Cloete mixed offbreaks and legbreaks to claim a career-best 5-wicket haul, Simon Fitzsimmons anchored the middle order in a comfortable and well-paced chase.
Red received brilliant strokeplay from Rob Dauth in their innings, but the misfortune is that no one else really stuck around with him. Bennett, Dobson and Maddocks all played useful knocks amidst 244 all out, but it was Dauth's centuary that really led the cause. Entering the attack after the front line spinners had been dealt with very harshly, Cloete flighted the ball nicely in his initial overs, then tidied up with flat quick deliveries at the end.
The Blues then took their turn at the crease. Opening the batting, Cloete never got going and was trapped in front to present debutant Cameron with his maiden Dev League wicket. The same bowler later removed de Silva with a beauty outside offstump and the score was 64/2. From there there was no outrageous strokeplay, but rather Camps and Crampton just pushed the ball about consistently and built a 56-run partnership.
When Camps missed a sweep against Law, Fitzsimmons came to the crease and added a further 67 with Crampton, before pairing with Wilshere to the close. Young Wilshere impressed with his highest OD score to date, ending unbeaten approaching 50.
Man of the Match: AP Cloete
CW Black v CW Green
at the CWBCC Stadium
A nailbiter at the CWBCC Stadium saw CW Black falling just short of victory over its host. Late wickets for legspinner Gareth Gooljar proved the key, as it undermined the good work done earlier by the top order.
Black set the game up nicely at 171/2, but the Green spinners set about to dismantle the approach, and finished with 7 of the 10 wickets. Earlier, the Black spinners made a healthy contribution as well. Neil Pickup and Rob Hing claimed 5 wickets between them as the home side was kept to 245 all out.
That proved a good total though, after Thompson dimissed Garven and Malone early to leave the score at 13/2. Goff and Walsh cashed in experience for half-centuries, whilst the in-form Feeney played well for his 40. The tail, however, could not push on at the end. The last 4 wickets for 32 runs.
Still, the slide was not as drastic as Black's, who lost 7 wickets for 40 runs to close. Callum Thompson took the game to the final over with 8 needed, then hit a boundary off the first ball. Alas, Rob Timewell held his nerve and got him slashing a slower ball to Goff at deep point, who took a spectacular one-handed catch.
Man of the Match: BJ Goff