Scorecard
Commentary
Brilliant Dauth denies Pakistan
CW XI vs Pakistan 4th Test
at the Fardin Qayyumi Cricket Centre
The Cricket Web XI failed to avoid a series defeat, but certainly did not perish without a fight. Brilliance from the two least experienced of Webheads led the way in a hard-fought drawn result at the Fardin Qayyumi Cricket Centre.
David Kearsley's second Test match hundred may well have saved his career, but certainly saved the CW XI from an embarrassing first innings showing. Dropped four times in his innings, Kearsley staged his second significant rescue mission of the series. The embattled batsman scored 120 of a total of 248, reviving a score of 66-5.
For all his best efforts, however, the Webheads surrendered a first innings lead of 39 runs to the tourists. Keen to capitalize and ensure a series win, the Pakistanis batted strongly in their second innings for the third time in the series, cruising to 427-5 declared.
The result meant that the CW XI would need to survive four sessions, chasing 467 for victory. Mamesh and Goff fell early, but at 78-2 at stumps, the game still hung in the balance heading into the final day.
But early wickets on day five looked to have sealed the game for the visitors.
Alas, battling late on the fifth day was Rob Dauth, playing just his fourth Test match. The same man who had held his nerve to help win the second match and square the series, was called upon at 128-4, with 75.2 overs remaining in the Test match. Dauth played the role beautifully, despite losing Andrew Cloete – the last specialist batsman – at 174-5.
The CW XI went to lunch at the score and it seemed an impossible task to deny a rampant Pakistan lineup on a fifth day pitch. Still, conditions proved to be conducive to miracles, and the Webheads fought on. Camps was dropped on 33 and 41, but ultimately batted into the final session of the match alongside Dauth.
When the allrounder was caught hooking, it seemed he may have thrown away the match in a foolish rush. Nathan Hoy walked out with scores of 4, 2, 2 and 3 in his last four innings. Pakistan needed just 4 wickets in 24.2 overs, knowing the “might” of Kennett/Thomas/Pickup lay just a wicket away.
A punch into the legside and Dauth threw his arms up in celebration. His was a chanceless maiden hundred under the most fierce of conditions. Hoy played his part in soldiering onward to the 109th over, but was caught at short leg off Asif for a brave 16.
All in attendance remained fixated upon the middle, and Kennett took his guard. Just 11.4 overs and both sides desperate to get home. That Asif would have Dauth dropped twice in the deep in the final segment of play just added to the increasing resolve that the match would be saved. Fittingly, and with a flashing cut stroke, Dauth raised his 150 in the last over of the game – a six over third man.
Pakistan 1st innings 287 all out
(Mohammad Hafeez 83, Inzamam-ul-Haq 58; GM Thomas 3-58, NS Pickup 3-73)
Cricket Web XI 1st innings 248 all out
(DA Kearsley 120, LA Camps 60; Shoaib Akhtar 5-49, Umar Gul 2-51)
Pakistan 2nd innings 427-5 dec.
(Inzamam-ul-Haq 125, Younis Khan 104, Asim Kamal 50*; GM Thomas 2-105)
Cricket Web XI 2nd innings 375-7
(RJ Dauth 150*, AP Cloete 81; Umar Gul 2-63, Mohammad Asif 2-73)
Match drawn.
Man of the Match: RJ Dauth
How OUT:
Pakistan
Imran Farhat – beaten by a sharp legbreak from over the wicket / pushed forward, caught short leg
Mohammad Hafeez – beaten by sharp in-nipper, lbw / ditto, but bowled
Younis Khan – drove at wide and full delivery, caught 3rd slip / flicked low to midwicket
Inzamam-ul-Haq – lofted to short extra cover / ditto
Kamran Akmal – top-edged pull shot, caught midwicket / not out
Shahid Afridi – slogged to long-on / beaten by slower ball, caught cover
Asim Kamal – nicked length delivery behind / not out
Shoaib Akhtar - not out
Danish Kaneria – nicked length ball, caught gully
Mohammad Asif – gloved short ball, caught 3rd slip
Umar Gul – run out by Dauth direct hit
Cricket Web XI
T Mamesh – shuffled across too far, bowled legstump / top-edged hook shot, caught long leg
H Mørk – pushed length ball back to bowler / flicked to square leg, caught chest high
BJ Goff – edged quick delivery to 1st slip / beaten by jaffa
AP Cloete – top-edged hook shot, caught fine leg / top-edged sweep, caught short fine leg
DA Kearsley – tired waft outside offstump, caught behind / leading edge, caught bowler
RJ Dauth – edged perfect away-seamer to 1st slip / not out
LA Camps – cut shot, caught brilliantly at extra cover / top-edged hook, caught long leg
NS Hoy – gloved short and quick ball, caught gully / pushed forward, inside edge to short leg
DM Kennett – not out / not out
GM Thomas – pushed at wide length ball, caught 1st slip
NS Pickup – wild slog, caught midwicket
Cloete in great touch, Camps as consistent as ever, Pickup, Thomas & Kennett having a typical CW bowlers series - an awesome game or two then some bowling to forget. 