First ODI: Cricket Web XI vs India
at CW Oval
Scorecard
Ball By Ball
The crowd in Edfield saw an Oval match full of excitement, drama, and top-quality cricket, though the Cricket Web bowling only genuinely came alive in the final ten overs. On the stat sheet, however, the match will be registered as a success for the Cricket Web team.
James Stedman sought revenge for his poor New Zealand series early, but chose not to use the striking tactics that had been so useful for Black. Stedman's first boundary came in the thirteenth over - yet Cricket Web had reached 64 for nought by the end of it. However, Chaulk dragged on Kumar, and Cloete was caught at slip by Gambhir for a golden; suddenly it was 72 for two.
Shortly afterwards, Butler hoiked to Ganguly, and with three men down a more cautious approach was in order. Dauth provided a fine foil to Stedman, helped by numerous dropped catches, and thunderous applause broke out when James Stedman scored his second One-day International century in seventeen games.
After two balls on the Nelson, Stedman gave up a feeble outside edge to Praveen Kumar, who thus got his fourth wicket despite not bowling with particular threat today. Fuller and Crampton, however, showed good application, adding 48 for the final wicket in a little over eight overs - with Fuller slashing four boundaries in a fine return to international cricket.
India got off to a good start, with Sehwag flaying Rose with expansive strokes. On the big pitch, they didn't find the boundary, but Sehwag and Gambhir instead got some running practice as threes were common. With Fuller's no-ball being dispatched for six, they thumped 59 without answer in the first eleven overs.
Pickup was brought in early as a way to stem the tide, but disappointed with wides and no-balls early on in his spell. Thus, Sehwag remained in immaculate control, registering one of his finest one-day knocks as he breezed past fifty. With Gambhir immobile until 49, he had set a good platform, and Cricket Web were left to rue a couple of dropped catches.
Butler's medium pace provided help. Sehwag set off for a daunting single and ran out Tendulkar on his watch - by that time he had conceded a meagre 12 in four overs. Rose was called upon for a second spell, but discarded after Sehwag struck another couple of sweet fours to reach 93 - and a Fuller no-ball meant India required a meagre 69 with eight wickets in hand to win their first game on tour.
However, Sehwag was unable to see things through. Halsey was expensive during his death spell, but got two wickets, and Pickup was back to his unplayable best. A flipper to Yuvraj was feebly fended away, Dauth ran in from midwicket, and Yuvraj was out for six - that was after Ganguly, Dhoni and Pathan had all perished. Seven men were down for 237, and India required 29 off 23.
Three runs came off the over, but now there simply weren't any recognised batsmen in. Fuller came back for another redemption, and with pitched-up deliveries he reaped two wickets in the next over, which all but concluded the game. Instead, Pickup had that honour, with RP Singh charging forward to slog him, missing, and being smartly stumped by Crampton. A hard-fought 21-run victory, another to the CW record.
Cricket Web XI 265 for six (50)
JE Stedman 111, SE Fuller 46, RJ Dauth 43; P Kumar 4/50
India 244 all out (48.1)
V Sehwag 102, G Gambhir 49; NS Pickup 3/36, TC Halsey 3/60, SE Fuller 2/45
Cricket Web XI won by 21 runs
Man of the Match: J. E. Stedman (Cricket Web XI)