Scorecard
Ball by Ball
SEASON X CHAIRMEN'S TROPHY FINAL
Cricket Web XI vs New Zealand
CWBCC Stadium
The Cricket Web XI finally stamped some authority in the Chairmen's Trophy, only waiting until the late stages of the final game to rise to the occasion. Clutch bowling was the key to victory in a stunning turnaround. A total of 272-7 proved too good for New Zealand, as they collapsed from a promising start to a 68-run defeat.
Liam Camps carried his tournament haul to 10 wickets with a 4-wicket bag. He cashed in on a fantastic spell of bowling by Tom Halsey, which strangled the Kiwi middle order and inspired a dramatic collapse.
When Stephen Fleming won the toss, he decided to take first use of the ball on the CWBCC turner. Overnight rains accounted for a soggy outfield, and cloudy overhead conditions encouraged the decision.
However, the early movement was quickly negated by the Cricket Web XI openers. Instead of a cautious approach, they opted for aggression and the opening partnership raced to the quality of 102 runs at the end of the 19th over.
Camps brought up a busy half-century, but was first out at the start of the over number 20. When Nathan Astle followed up with the wicket of Markus, it appeared New Zealand was fighting back into contention. The batting of Brendan Goff and Chris Butler then conspired to ensure otherwise.
For the second consecutive game, Daniel Vettori broke through with two key wickets in an over, and his double strike opened the gates for a lower order collapse. Butler played back to a ball that kept low and didn't turn, then Goff was caught at short fine leg from a top-edged sweep.
A score of 202-2 quickly became 246-7 with the return of Shane Bond to the attack. The fast bowler displayed superb control of reverse swing and cashed in with the wickets of Robbins, Chaulk and Halsey. But Dinu DeSilva remained.
DeSilva continued his fantastic form with another super innings under pressure. The right-hander stroked and smacked 7 boundaries, and held the innings together with 45 runs from 42 balls. Nathan Hoy contributed just 5 runs in an unbroken partnership of 28, and a total of 274-7 looked to pose a keen challenge for New Zealand.
It was hardly like to be a one-sided affair, however. At least that was the early message from the New Zealanders. Captain Fleming and Astle got the chase off the to flying start and raced to 66-0 after 11 overs.
Camps got the first breakthrough of Fleming and had Marshall dropped by Markus in the same over. The complexion of the game changed once more and suddenly the ball was alive. At medium pace, Robbins bowled a lively spell, then handed things over to the spinners.
Clearly eager to impact, Pickup and Halsey were handled well in the initial stages by Styris and Fulton. Though Fulton was reprieved against Pickup when he had just 6, he began to settle into some appreciable from.
At the end of the 30th over, the requirement stood at 128 runs from the final 120 balls. The Kiwis still had 7 wickets intact and looked in firm control of their destiny.
Watt, Halsey and Hoy combined to allow just 20 runs from next 7 overs and the pressure grew substantially. It came to fruition with Fulton's dismissal in the 38th over, and the Cricket Web XI took the opportunity to surge entirely into control.
Halsey showed great ability to counteract attacking intentions when he accounted for Taylor and McCullum. Neither managed to score. Ultimately the final 7 New Zealand wickets fell for the cheap purchase of 33 runs.
The dramatic change was met with excitement and praise by the crowd at the CWBCC Stadium, and acting Cricket Web XI coach Herbert Hanoomansingh said, "It is a nice sorta... win... to win... before the World Cup."
Reports suggest that Mr. Hanoomansingh is very temporary.
Cricket Web XI 277-7 (50 overs)
LA Camps 62, BJ Goff 56, MW DeSilva 45*
SE Bond 3-66, DL Vettori 2-44
New Zealand 209 all out (47.1 overs)
SB Styris 49, PG Fulton 39, SP Fleming 37
LA Camps 4-35, TC Halsey 2-28
Cricket Web XI won by 68 runs.
Man of the Match: LA Camps - 62, 4-35
