Coach's Comments:
If these games are any indication of what we're in for this season, we could see some great cricket. Indeed both games were closer than the scoreline indicates.
CW Red v CW Blue
Mookerjee and Bugssy put on 32 in 2.3 overs and there was no looking back. Bugssy absolutely commanded the bowling and added 118 runs with skipper Marc. Both then perished within 15 runs of each other - a minor setback.
Just as they did last season, Deeps and Ian Markus set about in explosive style and had the crowd on their feet in raising their respective half-centuries. Deeps' milestone took 58 balls, but Markus' took only 39! Zaid Ghansar replaced Markus in the 38th over and didn't waste much time in continuing the hitting. He got to his half-century from the last ball of the innings, facing 46 balls in total. CW Red 357/4!!
With the crowd all energized and a huge total to defend, Dave and Kennett were made to work and wait some 8 overs before the first wicket fell. With StUEy back in the hut, steady inroads were made and, despite a glorious hundred (88 balls) from Craig and a good half-century from Toogood (49 balls), the middle and late order were simply left with too much to do. Wickets fell away and Jellett ended unbeaten with the score on 289/8.
CRICKET WEB RED 357/4 50.0 overs
CRICKET WEB BLUE 289/8 50.0 overs
Cricket Web Red won by 68 runs
Man of the match: Bugssy
CW Black v CW Green
On another belter of a track (the kind of stuff we can expect for 25Smash), Pickup won the toss and inexplicably decided to have a bowl. Waughney looked in good touch early, but Broadbent ultimately removed both him and his opening partner for 42 runs. Adil Dewan would then steady the innings in partnerships with Loony Bob and Age Master.
However, it was the explosion of runs at the end of the innings that proved crucial. The dynamite came in the form of Lord of Darkness, who lifted 3 sixes and smacked 6 fours in 64 off 49 balls. He reached his fifty from 40 balls. With him at the end was Nathan Hoy - 294/6.
Early in the Black chase Darkness was in action again, running out Ferd. The inspiration continued with an inspired bowling change by Age Master to bring on Waughney and get Chaulk. Buts and Jagaways then stalled the Greens and, then when the latter was dismissed by Delkap, the run rate began to pick up again. Buts increased his scoring rate and moved from 30 off 40 balls to his half-century from 49 balls.
With BK Smith some 100 runs were added then both batsmen perished 8 runs apart. The quick dismissals meant the chase lost momentum and the required rate stepped up from 8 to 8.5 then over 9. Meanwhile Hunter and SquidAU tried their best to get in and get a move on, but could only manage to score around a run-a-ball as Darkness' late spell of 3-0-9-0 proved extremely effective.
CRICKET WEB GREEN 294/6 50.0 overs
CW BLACK 265/6 50.0 overs
Cricket Web Green won by 29 runs
Man of the match: Lord of Darkness