*Official* CW XI in Australia (The VB Series)

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Webheads Left Dizzy After Fightback

An inspired comeback with the ball saw the CW XI reduce Australia to 244/9 from a position 189/2, but it was still not enough as Gillespie settled in. The pacer took 3/28 and destroyed the chase with the wickets of Goff (0) and Cloete (7) in the early overs - 10/2 - then debutant Towns to a contentious decision.

Batting in the middle order, Rob "Bugs" Malone (59) knocked a brave half-century, but his and the impressive efforts of debutant Ghansar (39) were not enough. Dave Watt continued his form with a solid 15, but was ultimately out to a Kasprowicz slower ball.

The batsmen looked completely out of their league against the high quality Australian pace attack, but much heart can be taken from the performance in the field. Chris Butler showed his allround talents with a fantastic spell of 7-1-28-4 for career-best figures. He supported Zaid Ghansar's tight spell well, as the youngsters led the way.

The loss leaves Cricket Web in last place with a solitary point. Hope is not lost yet though, as the XI plays Pakistan twice before the finals series.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

VB Standings

		Played	Won	Lost	BP	Points	NRR
Australia	5	4	1	4	24	1.38
Pakistan	3	2	1	1	11	-0.16
Cricket Web XI	4	0	4	1	1	-1.59

 

[Loony BoB]

Absoloutely gutted with that game on both a personal and a team note. We did well to bowl them out for so few on what was said to be a batsman's paradise, but in the end we looked like a team of #11's. Filling out the stats for that game only drove home how poorly we've performed this series. Not much that can be said that hasn't already been said...

Taking two positives out of the match, though, Buts' four wickets were invaluable and Ghansar really shined on debut. At least we know that we have players coming through the ranks that show they can perform on an international scale.

 

[bugssy]

happy to hit my 59 after a little slump in form but i would give all 59 back if it meant we won and took the points... if we can beat pakistan easily in both games are we a chance of the finals, we are just struggling as a unit and if we where a v8 engine we are only firing on about 2 cylinders..............

 

[Nate]

*prays for good weather and ill Pakistanis*

 

[cbuts]

absolutly thrilled with my bowling performance, but bitterly dissapointed withmy batting effort. had put a few good scores in a row, but today - well its just dispointing

neil mate - really putting up my hand for some bowling duties for the blacks

 

[zghansar]

Saddened by the fate of the match, hope to contribute better towards the results

 

[cbuts]

want the pakistan match meant to be done already

why is p a k i not allowed to be typed??

 

[marc71178]

Because it is an offensive term.

 

[cbuts]

realy? everyone in nz, includingthe media uses it.

 

[Loony BoB]

I'd imagine they'd use Pakistani, not ****.

 

[marc71178]

realy? everyone in nz, includingthe media uses it.

Well we're owned by a New Zealander and he's banned it, so I guess not everyone does use it.

 

[cbuts]

guess its one of those words where it can be said in a hateful way, and in a normal way. pakistani and **** are used by the media here. whens our game happening anyway

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Sheep Invasion Holds Back VB Series

Due to an invasion of sheep at the Adelaide Oval, all VB Series matches have been postponed by two days, making the schedule:

Saturday 5th February
Pakistan v CW XI at Adelaide Oval

Monday 7th February
Australia v Pakistan at WACA (d/n)

Wednesday 9th February
Pakistan v CW XI at WACA

Saturday 12th February
1st Final at MCG

Monday 14th February
2nd Final at SCG (d/n)

Wednesday 16th February
3rd Final at Adelaide Oval (d/n)

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

CW XI to play Pakistan

I Markus
LA Camps
BJ Goff *
CR Butler
A Cloete
RJ Malone
Z Ghansar
AP Chaulk +
XPA Rose
DJ Watt
NS Pickup

12th Man: RG Verghese

Rose comes in for his One Day International debut, whilst Ian Markus returns from the flu. Camps moves up to open the batting with Markus, whilst Blewy returns to the middle order. Ghansar is retained after his fine showing in the last game, and Chaulk slips one down the order.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Ooh! It's "everyone gets to open" season!

Can I have a go next time?

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Butler Hundred Lifts Webheads

The Cricket Web XI bounced back into the VB Series in spectacular fashion at the Adelaide Oval. On a flat batting surface, the XI played like a team with nothing to lose. Bold and purposeful strokeplay was evident throughout the innings, with no better exponent than Chris Butler. Butler batted beautifully to raise his maiden ODI century off only 80 balls, with no less than 13 fours.

His knock was essential the middle of the innings, but all the batsmen played a part. Markus and Camps were cautious at the top in ensuring no early wicket was lost, then captain Brendon Goff injected urgency into the innings with a cameo of 50 off 39 balls. He then handed over to Butler and Cloete and the two owned all the bowlers Pakistan threw at them.

A partnership of 124 for the fourth wicket was broken in the 41st over, but there was no ease for the Pakistanis. Indeed, Rob Malone launched the first delivery he saw out of the ground. He proceeded to play an exceptional cameo before finding Shahid Afridi at midoff - 324/5. Ash Chaulk clubbed Shoaib for a six, and finished the innings alongside Cloete - a CW record 344/5.

With all the confidence of a massive total behind them, the Webheads took to the field. Immediately Pakistan's troubles were compounded, as Dave Watt trapped Kamran Akmal in front with a first ball yorker. Debutant Xavier Rose bowled the next over and met the perfect start to his international career. Yasir Hameed drove at a full delivery and edged to Butler in the gully for a duck - 2/2.

Watt got Youhana fending to the gully for 7, then Salman Butt (8) was pouched at 4th slip off Rose. Suddenly the game moved from a potentially thrilling chase to potential humiliation on the half of Pakistan. Inzamam-ul-Haq played a lovely innings, but got no support and the tail collapsed to the bowling of Liam Camps.

Victory by 192 runs for the CW XI and full points to stay alive in the VB Series.

 

[Loony BoB]

Awesome stuff! Great fightback, now to hold that concentration and focus on the next game, we've still got a chance at this!

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Magnificent. Worst thing was, we didn't even need Zaid as a batsman. Truly great cricket.

 

[Neil Pickup]

We'd been threatening... now let's finish the job in the next game...