Four Day - Round 2 - Match Reports

[Magrat Garlick]

Karnataka Record Fourth Straight Win
No One Rates Us - We Don't Care

Despite topping the one-day championship and being second in the first-class division 2, every expert in the WCC media still refuse to rate the Karnataka side from Bangalore. Today, however, another team effort and an epic century from opener Sanjay Borde saw Karnataka record a comfortable seven-wicket win against Hampshire - admittedly one of the weaker sides of Division 2.

Abhijit Kale won the toss and chose to field under ominous clouds at Southampton, and it turned out to be a wise choice. At times, Pradeep Engineer got the ball to swing a foot either way - almost at will - and wickets tumbled regularly for Yorkshire. Arguably the most important wicket fell when number nine Vijay Wadekar - woefully underbowled as usual - came on to bowl against Hampshire star batsman Graham, a man Karnataka wanted badly before this season. However, he showed a schoolboy mistake against Wadekar, stepping back to smash him for six but also stepping on his own stumps. With Engineer taking out the lower middle order and finishing with five for 55, and Aditya Jones bowling a good third spell to take out the tail, Hampshire finished with 197 all out.

The Karnataka reply was jittery, frequently interrupted by damage from the Gamage brothers. However, Ed Howarth stood tall, smashing 78 off 117 balls to lift Karnataka to 220 - with Howard Wilkins showing glimpses of his future class in a fine, composed 36. A lead of 21 was never going to be easy to defend, and when Drake and ul-Haq was batting for Hampshire and sending them to 188/3, things looked dire. However, Aditya Jones saved the match as so many times before - snaring the wicket of ul-Haq as he was gratefully caught by Wadekar in the gully. Light faded quickly, and the blazing pace of Dulip Liyanage was enough to rip out the Hampshire tail - boosting his figures to five for 67. In reply, Karnataka lost Jones (1) and Howarth (7) early, but Sanjay Borde played an excellent innings - although dropped by Inzamam on 73 - to lift Karnataka to 209 for 2 before eventually being given out to a dodgy lbw appeal from Gamage. However, Sean Maxwell secured the win in the next over, finishing on 88 not out.

The Four Day Division 2 Table:

Western Province 2-0 30 pts
Karnataka 2-0 26 pts
Warwickshire 1-1 22 pts
Yorkshire 1-1 20 pts
Mumbai 0-2 4 pts
Hampshire 0-2 3 pts

 

[The Baconator]

With Tasmania having been beaten in their last 2 games, the match-up against a strong Colts side, on the back of a comfortable win the previous week, was looking like it would be a 3rd consecutive defeat for the island state.

Colts won the toss and elected to bat, they started solidly with an opening stand of 45, but 3 quick wickets fell and Tasmania never looked back, Sammels and Canning sharing the early wickets, the next 3 to Akram and Rice finished off the tail. Prosser was the only Colts batsman to impress, making 77, but he lacked support and eventually fell trying to drive Tama Canning through the covers.

The Tasmanian openers walked out with a spring in their step after their good performance in the field. Charlton fell for 4, but Midlane formed a good partnership with Rudolph who made 53 and 44 respectively. Half-centuries followed from skipper Murray Goodwin and Andy Symonds but the best perfomer was Rowell, who broke his duck of first innings ducks, to make a sublime 128. Tasmania totalled 417 all out.

When Colts came out to bat Tasmania knew they couldn't let the upper order get too many to avoid a draw. There was no need to worry though, as Sammels and Sharma combined to reduce Colts to 116-5 with opener Madanagopal making 64. Abdul Razzaq played well, and he saved Colts from an innings defeat, but some admittidly lazy bowling at the end allowed a partnership of 97 between Razzaq and Jones. Sammels was the pick of the bowlers, as he took 5-74.

Tasmania came out to bat again, needing 70, which they rattled off in 17 overs without losing any wickets. Overall it was good performance from Tasmania, who take their first 4D win of the season.

Alex's man of the match: T Rowell.

 

[Slats4ever]

Karnataka Record Fourth Straight Win
No One Rates Us - We Don't Care

When u come up against either warwickshire or province and take a win that's when someone might rate u

 

[Slats4ever]

4 From 4 makes for Perfect Province Start

WCC season 6 is well and truely under way for Western Province as they find themselves at the top of both their OD and 4D competitions. The damp and overcast condititions didn't stop a huge Province crowd turning up to welcome their champions back in their first home game in 5 months. Fortunately for the fans the clouds lifted in time and play was able to get under way just an hour later than the scheduled time.

Yorkshire were quick to send Province in and take advantage of the early conditions. Jason Lewry led the way in upsetting Province's top order with some attacking bowling which reduced Province to 4-95. Danger man Funston however remained steadfast. After blazing about in round 1, it was a different, more subdued Funston dominating today. Friend and Jacobs gave him good support as they took the score to 5-180 however it was Funstons partnership with Quentin Friend which broke the game open. Friend was at his sizzling best as he took to the Yorkshire attack in an innings which Slats described as one of the most dominating ever from a number 7. Funston and Friend took the score to 314 before Funston was dismissed for 129, however the pain continued for Yorkshire who were unable to finish Province off. A stand of 82 for the 8th wicket between Schofield and Jacobs was enough to put the Province total up to 443.

Yorkshire then had a tough little half hour period before the close on the 2nd day and the duo of Tate and Kumble were keen to show the home crowd their skills for the fisrt time. Tate was able to extract and edge from Weir's bat and Yorkshire went to stumps 1 down. Wayne Tendulkar started the day well for Yorkshire however denying the home time from taking control. Whilst wickets fell steadily at the other end Tendulkar held things together, until they crumbled from 3-153 to 6-159 and Province could sniff the ascendency. However Charlie Hemp batted well with the tail as he once again frustrated the opposition with an exciting 77 off 97. Yorkshire however fell a long way short and had a big first innings deficity as they were all out for 306.

Keen to stay in the contest Ballard shone for the first time in the game as he dismissed both Province openers by the time the score had reached 64. Once again however Funston was the backbone as he and ex TN player Birch combined to put Yorkshire out of the game. Whilst the partnership may have only been 100, in the context of things it was going to be way to much for Yorkshire on a quickly deteriorating pitch. A declaration was eventually made by Schofield setting Yorkshire a target in excess of 400.

Yorkshire's top order was rattled and the end result began looking more and more of a formality as Province went through the motions, despite some lower order resistance to win by 250 runs with Kumble earning a rousing reception as he took 4-54.

The win leaves Province at the top of the 4 day table and looking like living up to pre season speculation as title contenders.

Slats4ever: "A pleasing result as we led from the start to the finish. It was great to give the home crowd a win. Yorkshire was going to be tough after upsetting Hampshire in round 1 but I'm happy with how the boys played. Funstons continued purple patch makes life easy for a manager, the bowlers can lift their heads up high after coming under intense scrutiny from the pre-season media and the lower orders sparkling form with the bat led by Friend gives us a lot of depth. The season has started well, but we have to keep this momentum running".

 

[Simon]

ill be adding some of these to the site over the next few days...

 

[Magrat Garlick]

When u come up against either warwickshire or province and take a win that's when someone might rate u

Did beat Warwicks.

OK, it was in OD, but still

 

[lord_of_darkness]

Hampshire's Manager Furious

Hampshires Manager was seen swearing his heart out at his players who put up another disappointing performance. This loss meant hampshire had lost both their matches in the FC competiton and were reeling in at the bottom of tha table.. And this was the 3rd loss of the season ( including the One Day group match loss ) Hampshire on paper has a very solid batting lineup.. much better than last season. But the stars are failing to perform and click together. The bowlers are doing everything they can. As seen at the game few days back. Karnataka held the advantage right from the very beginning when their bowlers made more use of the pitch and constantly gained wickets hence not giving any advantage whatsoever to the home side.
Hampshire Manager will go back to the discussion board and some serious changes will be brought forth to bring some change in results.
"We obviously dont want to get stuck at the bottom of the table, and then having to be relegated next season, we are a much better team than that, and i hope the players get performing".

Article from the Hampshire Daily

 

[andyc]

now lord, its all about encouragement and gentle nurturing of player's skills

 

[lord_of_darkness]

^ andy.. ive been takin care of each player like they were my own babies till now.. the lavish life.. the girls.. booze.. party...money.. and this is how they repay me.. so now its say hello to the darkside ....

 

[Slats4ever]

is that really the best way to manage your side mate? i never give my team the lavish life style all the time.. cricket's our job not living it up

 

[Mister Wright]

is that really the best way to manage your side mate? i never give my team the lavish life style all the time.. cricket's our job not living it up

But Lord has to supplement his second job as a pimp.

 

[lord_of_darkness]

Supplement or not.. every manager has his own methods..

 

[bugssy]

nsw continue good form

Nsw continued there good form to make it back to back wins after a slow start to the season with a good but not solid win but they all count.
Somerset batted first and the first sesion belonghed to the boys in blue with somerset at 3 - 78 however 2 very good knocks from goodwin 89 (214) and veteran youhana 110 (165) which took the dominance away from nsw and somerset would reach a respectable target of 317 ao.
All the nsw bowlers got amongst it with no one really standing out. just a solid performance.

Nsw known more for there one day heroics where hoping to get a nice lead and that they didreaching 464ao with M Parmar starring with 152 (222) also helping with the runs was J Martin 73 (113), H Charles 69* (97) and young rookie keeper K Stoddard is batting well with some nice scores early with 49 (94). a nice lead to take into the 2nd innings

smerset then come back out and hit a total of 333ao with P Pothas scoring 100 and fry 66
roach took 4 and kallis took 2 fo not alot.


Nsw not needing to many runs but lost wickets consistantly with Young rookie stoddard getting amongst it with top score of 53 (116). nsw passing the total 8 down.

a good win for the blues which was much neded.