Australia Under-19s vs Cricket Web Under-19s
at Adelaide Oval No 2
Scorecard
Ball By Ball
David Murphy's gritty knocks of 45 and 62 stood out on a spitting wicket at Adelaide, along with another fine performance by the part-time bowlers. Ritchie turned to them early and was well rewarded, as Luff, Arnold and himself knocked over the middle of their line-up. Yet, Australia were vindicated in their position to bat after a good second-innings performance.
It did look strange when both Sarna and Hughes gave easy chances early on, but Wade put on a crucial 60 with Murphy as Forner and McNamara struggled to put pressure on from one end. However, once McNamara returned and had Murphy out swinging to Dwyer, the rest of the order should have folded easily. From 147 for eight, however, Faulkner held out with Robson amid a spate of dropped catches, and only a googly from Roberts followed by accurate medium pace from Luff to the number 11 ended it.
The 45 runs were to be vital. Despite Arnold's vigil of 44, the other batsmen seemed to be in one-day mode as the innings was over in exactly 50 overs. Chris Dwyer bashed nine fours in a typical 48; it was the other batsmen who were largely at fault, as Robson's off spin was made unplayable and the Australian got figures of five for 47.
Batting again, the hosts made a crucial opening stand of 79, with the Webheads both unlucky and unskilled in not exploiting the conditions. Once again, however, the part-timers made all the difference; a well settled Murphy once again hoiked out and was caught behind, and after the 70-run stand between Keen and Jamie Smith, Arnold and Dwyer cleaned out the tail.
The two big partnerships, however, meant the Webheads chased a mammoth 294 on a very worn wicket. Five days of cricket had taken its toll, on the Webheads as well as the pitch, and after Faulkner had come on for Austin to decimate the top order, Simon Keen bowled quick and at them to bowl three and trap a fourth lbw. He ended with five for 31, Ritchie's and Dwyer's 20-minute appearances were the highest scores, and a meek capitulation for 148 was complete.
Australia Under-19s 192 all out (62.4 overs)
D Murphy 45; BC Donald 3-44, GM Roberts 2-27, MD Luff 1-0
Cricket Web Under-19s 191 all out (50 overs)
CR Dwyer 48, AR Arnold 44; SD Robson 5-47, JP Faulkner 2-22, SN Austin 2-42
Australia Under-19s 292 all out (74.2 overs)
D Murphy 62, JD Smith 41; AR Arnold 3-29, MD Luff 2-27, CR Dwyer 2-42
Cricket Web Under-19s 148 all out (27.2 overs)
ZJ Ritchie 37; SJC Keen 5-31, JP Faulkner 3-35, MR Day 2-34
Australia Under-19s won by 145 runs
Man of the Match: D. Murphy (Australia)