Borcich breaks through then CW XI build big lead
Day 3 - Cricket Web XI vs India - 2nd Test @ CW Oval
The form of the Cricket Web XI top order continued to shine brightest, as the hosts worked their way into the dominant position on day three. At the end of the day they led by 297 runs with 9 wickets intact. In the morning India fought back well behind a half-century from MS Dhoni, but the lively bowling of Nick Borcich helped secure a sizeable first innings lead for CW XI.
Nick Borcich was in top form.
Borcich took his fir$st 5-wicket haul, accounting for VVS Laxman for 49, and later wrapping up the tail. He shared 9 wickets with Travis Demeza, further stating the friendliness of the pitch. And already leading by 111, CW XI stomed out of the blocks against the new ball. Pathan was not the force of the first innings, and in 4 expensive overs, Mamesh hit him out of the attack. The opening batsman continued his personal resurgence by reach fifty from 39 balls, but got carried away and lofted a low full toss from Anil Kumble to Sreesanth at long-off. Tea was taken immediately after, and India reconsidered their tactics with the score on 92-1.
But the final session offered no more joy for the tourists. Mork gained reward for his patience with another half-century, then Pete Young clipped Sreesanth past midwicket for a boundary and a third consecutive Test fifty. There was little time for anything more dramatic. Just 4 balls later, play was called.
Cricket Web XI 1st innings 365 ao (126.5 overs)
PE Young 68, MW Wilson 52, RJ Dauth 54, H Mork 40, NS Pickup 39*
IK Pathan 5-86 Z Khan 3-85
India 1st innings 254 ao (83.3 overs)
MS Dhoni 50, VVS Laxman 49, W Jaffer/R Dravid 33
NA Borcich 5-74, TJ Demeza 4-81
Cricket Web XI 2nd innings 186-1 (53 overs)
T Mamesh 66, H Mork 57*, PE Young 54*
A Kumble 1-46
Young tons up to set up thriller
Day 4 - Cricket Web XI vs India - 2nd Test @ CW Oval
India fought back well on the third day, but Pete Young stood firm with his second Test ton of the series to show the way to a big declaration. Both Mork and Cloete were out before lunch, and India started the afternoon with the wickets of Chris Butler (13) and Rob Dauth (5) with the old ball. The Indians continued to refuse a second new ball and chipped away at the middle order.
Young scored a single to reach 100, having faced 233 balls. And after Borcich was caught at slip, Adam Collins was a worthy partner in the press to a lead of 500. For the second time in the match, the Cricket Web Blue medium pacer stuck in at the crease and registered a composed 33. He flashed a wide ball from Pathan over backward point and raised the 500 lead, then Neil Pickup declared on 390-7. Young raised his bat to warm applause as he walked off the field, with 128 to his name.
Young drives pleasantly en route to another Test ton.
India were set to face 17 overs before stumps, and managed to lose the wicket of Wasim Jaffer (23) to a fiery Borcich. He got a thin edge through to the wicketkeeper and was replaced by Irfan Pathan, playing the role of the nightwatchman. But even given their dominance, CW XI let themselves down with sloppy fielding. Borcich found the edge of Pathan's bat, but Mork could not cling on to the simple chance. He celebrated the let-off with a couple of thumping offdrives against Borcich, and Pathan batted to 16 not out at stumps.
India then set themselves the task of batting out day five on a crumbling pitch, with 9 wickets remaining and 439 still needed for an unlikely victory.
Cricket Web XI 1st innings 365 ao (126.5 overs)
PE Young 68, MW Wilson 52, RJ Dauth 54, H Mork 40, NS Pickup 39*
IK Pathan 5-86 Z Khan 3-85
India 1st innings 254 ao (83.3 overs)
MS Dhoni 50, VVS Laxman 49, W Jaffer/R Dravid 33
NA Borcich 5-74, TJ Demeza 4-81
Cricket Web XI 2nd innings 390-7 dec. (53 overs)
PE Young 128*, T Mamesh 66, H Mork 62, AP Cloete
Z Khan 3-85
India 2nd innings 63-1 (17 overs)
W Jaffer 23, V Sehwag 18*, IK Pathan 16*
NA Borcich 1-33