Cricket Web XI vs Australia
1st Twenty20 International - Casston Reserve
Scorecard
Dan Smith played a spectacular innings to put Cricket Web XI 1-0 up in their mini-Twenty20-series against Australia. The Cricket Web Black captain cast aside the selection controversy of recent weeks and slaughtered the Australian pace attack during an innings of 87 not out. Interestingly, Ricky Ponting declined to use Andrew Symonds with the ball, and possibly paid the price. Indeed, the was a too similar quality to the attack and the Webbers capitalized with authority. Smith hit the first ball he faced from Brett Lee for six over midwicket, and added four further big hits, along with 5 fours in his 41-ball stay.
Australia batted first after winning the toss, but were quickly in trouble against the new ball. Neither of the prolific pairing of Shaun Marsh (2) and Matthew Hayden (7) got going. The former was caught behind attempting an ambitious offdrive, then the latter nicked a beauty from Xavier Rose to slip. The left-armed charms of Kingsley Clapham accounted for Ricky Ponting for 11 and the top order was gone at 28-3. CW XI skipper Neil Pickup took over the role of chief destroyer in the middle overs, and by the 12th over Australia stood desperate on 102-8. But as per usual there was no need to panic, and Brett Lee staged the traditional rescue act with Mitchell Johnson at his side. Both batsmen took a little time to settle in with quick ones and twos, but by the time Lee elected to launch he did so with great effect. The best of his four sixes was a front foot pull shot to deposit Gough over midwicket. He was out for 55 and Johnson scored 37, and Australia reached a very good total of 182.
CW XI started in less sensational fashion. Rather Ash Chaulk (13) struggled to come to terms with the swinging ball of Lee and Johnson. That pressure told with his run out in the 4th over, so Smith took guard with a lot left to do. He had the familiar company of James Stedman, however, and looked at home in quick time. The fast bowlers tried their best to unsettle him, but anything marginally short flew to the boundary on either side, square of the wicket. Smith raced to 50 from 22 balls and then slowed with the end in sight. Stedman was undone by a clever legcutter for 39, but at that stage the requirement was a mere 96 from 74 balls. As such Sean Fuller had time to ease into a calm innings and drew on his excellent form to work the gaps expertly during his knock of 42.
Australia Innings 182 all out (19.6 overs)
B Lee 55 (31), MG Johnson 37 (21), BJ Haddin 18 (17)
NS Pickup 3-16 (3), XPA Rose 2-22 (3)
Cricket Web XI Innings 183-2 (17.6 overs)
DP Smith 87* (41), SE Fuller 42* (34), JE Stedman 39 (22)
JR Hopes 1-37 (4)
Cricket Web XI won by 8 wickets.
Men of the Match: DP Smith (CW XI)