Cricket Web Black v Cricket Web Blue
in Pickford Reserve
Scorecard
Commentary
Shocking batting from Blue undid a lot of good work by the seamers, and Black went top of the table once more after an eventually polished performance.
Black batted first, but slipped to 98 for seven, as Demeza whittled through the top order and McKern, Collins, Smith all chipped in with a wicket each. However, Richards and Borcich showed some batting prowess once more, adding 87 for the eighth wicket, before Dunn rounded off the innings with a brace.
Then Blue collapsed. None of the batsmen managed to score, as Black served up 16 maidens in 45 overs, and Warwick got cheap wickets against the obscenely long Blue tail. Collins escaped with some respectability, surviving for 8 not out, but they were still routed for 94, 91 short of Black's total.
Black then batted with ease, knowing that the lead was in the bag, though Demeza once again picked up wickets - this time against the tail, though, which did enable him to take a ten-wicket-haul in the match. However, Blackman, Gray and Law all impressed to lift Black to a solid total of 383, and the target looked all too imposing.
Blue batted better the second time around, but their tail once again let them down as they crashed from 157 for three to 179 all out - McKern making 13 of those runs from number 11 - against Borcich and Richards. It was a mere formality to complete the 295-run victory.
Cricket Web Black 185 all out (Law 46; Demeza 4/59, Dunn 2/16)
Cricket Web Blue 94 all out (Cloete 21; Warwick 6/20)
Cricket Web Black 383 all out (Blackman 84, Gray 61, Law 51; Demeza 6/122)
Cricket Web Blue 179 all out (Young 55; Borcich 4/56, Richards 3/49)
Cricket Web Black won by 295 runs
Points: Black 17, Blue 3
Man of the Match: H. G. Warwick
Cricket Web Red v Cricket Web Colts
in CW Oval
Scorecard
Commentary
James Malthus-Howell's amazing knocks of 112 and 36 not out helped Colts to a memorable victory over Red, thoroughly outplaying their top-of-the-table opponents to end with a deserved ten-wicket victory.
Red batted well after being inserted under cloudy skies, and were looking to rack up a massive total when Luff was trapped lbw by a splendid delivery from Wright for 31. A pair of excellent old-ball spells from Wright and Hancock, and magnificent fielding to run out Kearsley, and suddenly Red's tail was exposed. They fought with some spunk, Bennett crediting himself with 20 runs, but they were still dismissed for 195.
Not even David Kennett could dig them out of that hole. Once again, his control and pace was masterful, and he took three of the first four wickets as Colts fell to 110 for four. Instead of the usual batting collapse, however, Malthus-Howell and Nayak took the bowlers apart - and racked up a fifth-wicket stand of 115. It turned the match on its head. Nayak got able help from Weber and Rai, and despite Kennett roaring through the tail to end with the incredible figures of seven for 54, Colts had scored 335.
Resuming 140 behind, Mørk went in the first over, inside edging Greg Thomas. Kennett's fellow Test bowler was on prime form, yet was once again treated with distaste by Mamesh, Luff and Kearsley, who took Red within seven runs with just the two wickets lost. Then Thomas returned - and wrekced all hopes. He had Kearsley caught, Dobson lbw, and ran out Ritchie in his followthrough, an awfully judged run. Leading by 21, Red's tail once again contributed some valuable runs, but ultimately the target of 110 was laughably tiny, and Burke and Malthus-Howell eased to victory against feebly ineffctive bowling, batting for 43.1 overs with only the occasional chance given.
Cricket Web Red 195 all out (Mamesh 45; Wright 4/45)
Cricket Web Colts 335 all out (Malthus-Howell 112, Nayak 91; Kennett 7/54, Reddlapalli 3/88)
Cricket Web Red 249 all out (Mamesh 88; Thomas 5/77, Hancock 3/51)
Cricket Web Colts 110 for nought (Burke 60*, Malthus-Howell 36*)
Cricket Web Colts won by 10 wickets
Points: Colts 19, Red 3
Man of the Match: J. B. Malthus-Howell
Tomorrow's fixtures (all players available): Green v Red in CWBCC Stadium, Black v Colts in Pickford Reserve